Arvo Pärt

[Gordon B]

I never heard of this Estonian composer until somebody lent me "Tabula Rasa." I really love this record. Here's a good description of the title track, which takes up almost half the cd.

I think people who like the strings works of Feldman would like this record, although their music is not that similar.

Does anybody have any other recommendations of music by Pärt?

[Nim Chimpsky]

Te Deum is an all-time favourite of mine. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Monte Smith]

I agree that his music can be very lovely. But I worry that his fanbase is made up largely of präts.

[Nim Chimpsky]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

I agree that his music can be very lovely. But I worry that his fanbase is made up largely of präts.

Rumbled!

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

I agree that his music can be very lovely. But I worry that his fanbase is made up largely of präts.

I can't believe that a certain poster from the Bay is a fan of Arvo.
Really?

Monte, President Ilves was in my high school class. He was valedictorian.

Nim, I'm definitely going to get "Te Deum."

[AntManBee]

Was it the ECM release you heard? That's by far the best Pärt release I've heard, but unlike many other folks, I prefer his orchestral works to his vocal pieces. But if I had to pick on album of choral music, I'd probably choose "Miserere".

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by AntManBee

Was it the ECM release you heard? That's by far the best Pärt release I've heard, but unlike many other folks, I prefer his orchestral works to his vocal pieces. But if I had to pick on album of choral music, I'd probably choose "Miserere".

Yes, the ECM one.

[jaka]

Originally Posted by AntManBee

if I had to pick on album of choral music, I'd probably choose "Miserere".

Seconded for choral works choice.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Monte, President Ilves was in my high school class. He was valedictorian.

Huh! I went to school with some Lithuanians. Back in the day, these were exiles. Better times now.

[walto]

IIRC, stonemonkts is also a fan.

[Paul B]

Originally Posted by walto

IIRC, stonemonkts is also a fan.

Et tu, Walto?

[walto]

Not so much.

[Gentle Giant]

The only Pärt I own is Miserere and I like it a lot but it makes a lot of demands on the listener and his/her speakers. It's barely audible for very long stretches and then it blasts out like thunder.

[bostontricky]

Thanks, you guys are going to spring a Pärt orgy at work tomorrow.

At one point or another, I've owned all the ECM releases: I wonder what moved me to dispose of Miserere, the only thing I can think of is that it may have duplicated some tracks I preferred on the Harmonia Mundi disc De Profundis, with Theatre of Voices/Paul Hillier.

I'm putting a shout out for Kanon Pokajanen on ECM, there are some right powerful passages. Also Fratres on Telarc, which features (mostly) a number of versions of the composition of the same name; the one for eight cellos I find most moving.

And Alina (a bird of another feather, solo piano or piano/violin) put the Trickettes to bed for years.

[john williams]

I'm with you Bostontricky as you've named all my favorites in one post. Alina gets some flak but I love it in the same way I love Eno's Music For Airports etc. I think I have the Naxos Fratres but it's still very good. I love Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten.

[Gordon B]

I ordered Te Deum, Miserere, and my own copy of Tabula Rasa. That's a good start, I think.

[Root Doctor]

I'll cast another vote for Miserere.