Arvo Part

Par PART ARVO. Following an initiative by Princess Caroline of Monaco/Hannover to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reign of his Highness, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, composer Arvo Pärt was commissioned to compose a work for choir and orchestra. The finished work, Cantique des degrés, received its premiere on 19 November 1999 during a special service in the Cathedral of Monte-Carlo in the presence of the royal family. It was performed by the Orchestre Philharmonique and the opera choir, both of Monte-Carlo, and conducted by Estonian conductor Tõnu Kaljuste. Cantique des degrés is based on Psalm 121 - Je lève mes yeux vers la montagne - and sung in Latin. Pärt's setting comprises eight sung verses of the psalm that lead to a final, hymn-like instrumental coda. The tonalities of the composition progress regularly, ascending stepwise from verse to verse ('cantique des degrés'); but despite this episodic character, the overall mood of the sequences remains consistent. In this way, the two contrasting basic elements of the piece - dynamic motion and balanced repose - are united creating a harmonious whole./ Répertoire / Chœur Mixte [SATB] et Orchestre

Par PART ARVO. Fratres (original setting for violin and piano) was commissioned by the Salzburg Festival and premiered on August 17th, 1980 at that very place (violin: Gidon Kremer, piano: Elena Kremer). Composed in Pärt's very own 'Tintinnabuli'-style, this piece allows many different settings because it is not bound to a specific tone color. 'The highest virtue of music, for me, lies outside of its mere sound. The particular timbre of an instrument is part of the music, but it is not the most important element. If it were, I would be surrendering to the essence of the music. Music must exist of itself … two, three notes … the essence must be there, independent of the instruments.' (Arvo Pärt)/ Répertoire / 3 Flûtes à Bec [S,A,T]

Par PART ARVO. The Berlin Mass is intended to be sung liturgically during Pentecost, and includes the Veni Sancte Spiritus specific to that service. The gently unfolding repetition deliberately avoids dramatic and pictorial elements, exuding quiet dignity and a profound sense of joy. The vocal scores have almost no interpretive markings. Dynamics and tempi are left to the performers; it is their task to experience and communicate the rich spiritual possibilities offered in the music. The work is devout and transparent. For the willing listener, it can be a clear window into the soul. (Richard Brown) The Berlin Mass was given its first performance (by Theatre of Voices) at the Catholic Days in Berlin during May 1990. The occasion was a celebration of Mass, and the music, scored for four singers and organ, had a strictly liturgical function. Pärt subsequently decided to orchestrate the work for strings and chorus, and also made many changes to details of the composition, most substantially to the accompaniment of the Sanctus. (Paul Hillier) / Musique contemporaine / Répertoire / Chœur Mixte SATB ou Solistes et Orgue