Sir John Kenneth Tavener was an English composer, noted for his religious choral works. He first came to public attention with the performance of his Cantata The Whale which was subsequently recorded and released on the Beatles’ Apple Label. His output includes orchestral and chamber works, choral and vocal pieces and operas. From the late 1970s his works were influenced by the mysticism and liturgical traditions of Orthodox Christianity, following his conversion the the Russian Orthodox Church in 1977. Among his best known works are The Lamb (1982), The Protecting Veil (1988) and Song for Athene (1993), the latter piece was played at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.