If you've ever heard this before, you'll know what I'm talking about. It's absolutely heartbreaking. The only version I've heard is a crappy MP3 that I can't even tell if it's live or not. I'm pretty sure it is. But now, it's finally getting an official release. If you're a fan of Bjork's more acoustic and classical inspired work, you're gonna love this. Here's the full story from www.bjork.com.

Björk and the Brodsky Quartet recorded a composition written by composer John Tavener, called "Prayer Of The Heart". It was first heard in photographer Nan Goldin's exhibition, as the soundtrack to a slideshow of images entitled Heartbeats.

The composition itself is a long, haunting, song where she sings Kyrie Eleison ("Lord Have Mercy") in English and Greek. The piece is now being released as a part of a box set to celebrate the composer's 60th birthday.

Pre order the CD by Tavener, scheduled for release February 2nd on hmv.co.uk. (link).

Below are few quotes about the project from an interview by Mixing It in 2001:
- John Tavener has actually written a piece for you, and you've collaborated with him.
Yeah, I almost blush. I think it might have been Brodsky's idea, or something - Brodsky's Quartet [sic], which I was working with a lot, and I was telling them how much I liked this piece. And they were saying, 'Oh, why don't we just ask him', and I was like [sharp intake of breath] - you don't just do that, you know - and so, yeah, we recorded it - it's not out yet - it's a prayer of the heart; he based it on a monk he saw in India that had been meditating for so long that his body was dead and they were going to bury him or something, but then they figured out that he was in such a euphoric state that his body didn't matter any more. And he based a piece on that, so it's very, very pure.

- And you just sang it? Or did you contribute more than that?
I just sang it. But it was incredible for me, something I've never experienced before, that someone who's obviously a good composer would check out my range, my vocal range...

- So he'd listen to your records?
Yeah, and he had to work out - I felt like a gun in somebody's hand - he had to work out my range, what I could do, and then just threw this song through me. And you're just like a tool.

- And was it what you'd expected?
Yeah, I guess it was already fifty times more than I already had dreamed of, the whole thing was quite magical…we would spend some times together and have some dinners…he's really into some pretty full-on debates about the small things in life, like death and religion and love...
John Tavener said about Björk in Guardian Europe, December 1999
"I want to write something for her. I don't see why not. She's far more intelligent than most classical singers."

Some trivia is that the piece was conducted by Murray Hipkin, who is also said to have conducted Björk's performance of Schönberg's operatic piece 'Pierrot Lunaire' at the Verbier Festival in 1996.

:Woot:

when does it come out?

cborgman said:

2/2/2004

I love her. She really is brilliant.

Thank you TRON ~ it will be incredible to have the real thing. It absolutely makes brings me to tears and humbles me more than any song I can think of. I KNEW that guy on Inside Bjork was someone special! THANK YOU!!!

bratchildsfriend said:

You're welcome. It'll be interesting to check out the rest of his cd too. I bet there's some great stuff on there.