The sound of silence
Two sacred choral pieces by Arvo Pärt, one a cappella, one with piano.
Estonian composer Arvo Pärt celebrated his 90th birthday this September. He himself says of his style, which emerged in the late 1980s: "Tintinnabulation is an area I sometimes delve into when I'm looking for answers - in my life, my music, my work. (...) The complex and multi-layered only confuses me, and I have to search for unity ..."
Two of his most recent choral works are the German Our Father and the motet O Holy Father Nicholas. He wrote the latter for the rededication of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at the National Shrine at Ground Zero in New York, which was destroyed on September 11, 2001. A sonorous, enriching ten minutes in typical Pärt a cappella style. The Our Father on the other hand, is rather atypical for him, but no less impressive. In addition to the previous versions for voice and piano and for choir, piano and string orchestra, Universal Edition Wien has now published this new version for choir and piano, which can also be performed by amateur choirs.
Arvo Pärt: Our Father, for mixed choir and piano, UE 38005, € 8.95, Universal Edition, Vienna
Id.: O Holy Father Nicholas, for mixed choir a cappella, UE 38114, € 13.95
