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Programme Note

I dreamed The Hidden Treasure in the form of twenty-five notes which I immediately saw as a Byzantine palindrome representing 'Paradise'. These twenty-five notes formed the structure of my piece, which represents a journey from Paradise towards Paradise: the constant memory of the Paradise from which we have fallen leads to the unknown Paradise which was promised to the repentant thief. The steps of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ are suggested throughout.

The Hidden Treasure was written in memory of Mother Katherine, who died on Christmas Day 1988, and of Sophie, a very dear friend who was tragically killed in Greece in January 1989.

John Tavener