John Tavener: Last Sleep Of The Virgin

The Last Sleep of the Virgin was written for string quartet and handbells in 1991. It enacts the story of the falling asleep and burial, by the Apostles, of the Mother of Jesus. This work was commissioned for the Chilingirian Quartet by the Cheltenham Festival, The first performance was given by the Chilingirian Quartet with Kim Sargeant as part of the 1992 Cheltenham Festival.