Arranger's note: John Tavener's Three Shakespeare Sonnets received their world premiere just three days after his death, and were broadcast by the BBC a few days later. Listening to the broadcast, I was struck by how almost unbearably apposite the title of the third of the sonnets No longer mourn for me, seemed - and how tenderly beautiful the music was. Maybe even then the idea passed through my head that the piece would sound beautiful for cello choir. In the event, I arranged it some time later; Id' like to think that the cellos are a perfect substitute for the voices.