The sound of Arvo Pärt

Arvo Pärt creates music of deceptive simplicity, and listening to his work can be a transformative experience. Imagine taking your ears on a retreat, and you’re some way to understanding why his work is so popular. The Estonian composer underwent his own transformation in the 1970s, having explored dense avant-garde music in the early part of his career. He put himself through an eight-year creative exile, and emerged with a new, purer voice. The Arvo Pärt that many people are devoted to today (including R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and Björk) creates music that cleanses. A sonic detox.

Side A

1 Spiegel im Spiegel (violin & piano) 8.16

2 Fratres (violin & piano) 11.21

3 Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten (string orchestra & bell) 5.21



Side B

Tabula Rasa (for 2 violins, string orchestra & prepared piano)

1 – Ludus (with movement) 9.59

2 – Silentium (without movement) 16.22