Mother and Child is a choral composition by John Tavener written in 2002 on a commission from the Tenebrae vocal ensemble.
[2] The music is set for a choir in four parts, at times subdivided (SSAATTBBB), organ and temple gong.
The music begins very softly (pp), growing steadily but very gradually and never louder than mezzo-piano (mp).
[3]: 2 After several stanzas in growing intensity, the choir is joined at the climax by a forceful pipe organ that adds pulses to the singing, and strokes on a Hindu temple gong.
[1] The composition became the centerpiece of a 2003 album of the same name by Tenebrae, conducted by Nigel Short, along with other contemporary sacred music.