Compositions Arvo Pärt

pärt @ estonian foreign ministry in 2011

pärt s works divided 2 periods. composed works using range of neo-classical styles influenced shostakovich, prokofiev, , bartók. began compose using schoenberg s twelve-tone technique , serialism. this, however, not earned ire of soviet establishment proved creative dead-end. when works banned soviet censors, pärt entered first of several periods of contemplative silence, during studied choral music 14th 16th centuries. in context, pärt s biographer, paul hillier, observed had reached position of complete despair in composition of music appeared futile of gestures, , lacked musical faith , willpower write single note.

the spirit of european polyphony informed composition of pärt s transitional third symphony (1971); thereafter immersed himself in music, reinvestigating roots of western music. studied plainsong, gregorian chant , emergence of polyphony in european renaissance.

the music began emerge after period radically different. period of new compositions included 1977 works fratres, cantus in memoriam benjamin britten , tabula rasa. pärt describes music of period tintinnabuli—like ringing of bells. spiegel im spiegel (1978) well-known example has been used in many films. music characterised simple harmonies, single unadorned notes, or triads, form basis of western harmony. these reminiscent of ringing bells. tintinnabuli works rhythmically simple , not change tempo. characteristic of pärt s later works settings sacred texts, although chooses latin or church slavonic language used in orthodox liturgy instead of native estonian language. large-scale works inspired religious texts include st. john passion, te deum, , litany. choral works period include magnificat , beatitudes.

pärt has been performed living composer in world 5 consecutive years. of pärt s popularity, steve reich has written: in estonia, arvo getting same feeling getting ... love music, , love fact such brave, talented man ... s out of step zeitgeist , yet s enormously popular, inspiring. music fulfills deep human need has nothing fashion. pärt s music came public attention in west largely manfred eicher recorded several of pärt s compositions ecm records starting in 1984.

invited walter fink, pärt 15th composer featured in annual komponistenporträt of rheingau musik festival in 2005 in 4 concerts. chamber music included für alina piano, played himself, spiegel im spiegel , psalom string quartet. chamber orchestra of bavarian radio symphony orchestra played trisagion, fratres , cantus along works of j.s. bach. windsbach boys choir , soloists sibylla rubens, ingeborg danz, markus schäfer , klaus mertens performed magnificat , collage über b-a-c-h 2 cantatas of bach , 1 of mendelssohn. hilliard ensemble, organist christopher bowers-broadbent, rostock motet choir , hilliard instrumental ensemble, conducted markus johannes langer (de), performed program of pärt s organ music , works voices (some cappella), including pari intervallo, de profundis, , miserere.

a new composition, für lennart, written memory of estonian president, lennart meri, played @ meri s funeral service on 2 april 2006.

in response murder of russian investigative journalist anna politkovskaya in moscow on 7 october 2006, pärt declared of works performed in 2006 , 2007 in honour of death, issuing following statement: anna politkovskaya staked entire talent, energy and—in end—even life on saving people had become victims of abuses prevailing in russia.

pärt wife nora in 2012

pärt honoured featured composer of 2008 rtÉ living music festival in dublin, ireland. commissioned louth contemporary music society compose new choral work based on st. patrick s breastplate , premiered in 2008 in louth, ireland. new work called deer s cry. first irish commission, having debut in drogheda , dundalk in february 2008.

pärt s 2008 4th symphony named los angeles , dedicated mikhail khodorkovsky. pärt s first symphony written since 3rd symphony written in 1971. premiered in los angeles, california, @ walt disney concert hall on 10 january 2009, , nominated grammy award best classical contemporary composition.

on 10 december 2011, pärt appointed member of pontifical council culture five-year renewable term pope benedict xvi.

on 26 january 2014, tõnu kaljuste, conducting estonian philharmonic chamber choir, sinfonietta riga, tallinn chamber orchestra, latvian radio choir , vox clamantis ensemble, won grammy best choral performance performance of pärt s adam s lament.