Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Track Listings
| 1. In principio |
| 2. La Sindone |
| 3. Cecilia, vergine romana |
| 4. Da Pacem Domine |
| 5. Mein Weg |
| 6. Für Lennart in memoriam |
Product Description
Product Description
Impressive overview of Arvo Pärt's recent stylistic development features six touching choral and orchestral compositions - in turns powerful, tender, elemental and lively, all premiere recordings or first recordings of new versions. In recent years Arvo Pärt has written some significant works for larger forces mostly commissioned by major institutions for celebratory occasions. Most impressive is the dramatic 25-minute In Principio (2003) for mixed choir and symphony orchestra which sets to music the famous opening of St John's gospel. In its five movements, "tintinnabuli" diatonicism is contrasted with sophisticated harmonic procedures, massive brass chords are juxtaposed with almost stoic calm in the choir. The purely orchestral La Sindone (The holy shroud), a highly expressive piece which mirrors the shroud's symbolic shine-through effects in delicate string textures, Caecilia, vergine romana is for mixed choir and orchestra. Da pacem Domine, one of Pärt's most serenely beautiful pieces, responded in a very subtle way to the 2004 terror attacks in Madrid's Atocha station. Heard a cappella on ECM's Lamentate, it appears now in an even more beautiful version for choir and strings. Two instrumental compositions complete the CD: the rhythmically energetic Mein Weg and Für Lennart in memoriam, a still piece in homage to late Estonian president Lennart Georg Meri. The outstanding performances are by some of Pärt's long-standing musical partners: noted conductor Tõnu Kaljuste, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. This major addition to ECM's series of "authentic" premiere recordings made with the composer's assistance coincides with the 25-year jubilee of ECM's New Series that launched with Arvo Pärt's Tabula Rasa - the disc which put the composer on the map internationally - in 1984. Personnel: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tonu Kaljuste (conductor)
Product Description
CD Estonian Phil.Chamber Choir
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Philoctetes
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
I bought this after reading a review in Gramophone magazine. It has a mixture of instrumental and choral/instrumental pieces, between five and twenty minutes in duration (total 71:02). Their reviewer noted a similarity in the title piece with music by janacek and Leifs - a personal favourite - and I wouldn't disagree, except to say that Part always seems uniquely meditative or prayerful, even when the music is very animated or fierce. I particularly enjoyed the shimmering sonorities on La Sindone. Da Pacem Domine is here presented with an orchestral accompaniment to the choir; personally, I prefer the unaccompanied versionArvo Pärt: Da Pacem.
Given the relative brevity of these pieces, when compared to things like Passio or Kanon Pokajanen,and ECM's superb production - righ down to the booklet paper - this CD can be spiritually recommended to Part newcomers for a first try, and those in the know.
Given the relative brevity of these pieces, when compared to things like Passio or Kanon Pokajanen,and ECM's superb production - righ down to the booklet paper - this CD can be spiritually recommended to Part newcomers for a first try, and those in the know.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a brilliant CD which is, for my money, the best ECM Arvo CD since Te Deum. The CDs in the intervening years have all been good, but none have moved me as much as In Principio. Musically, it's both a further development of his tintinnabuli style - the title piece in particular - and a return to some favourites, such as the new versions of Da Pacem and Mein Weg. La Sidone and Cecilia Virgine Romana are very strong, heading in a new direction, perhaps, whilst retaining recognisable tintinnabuli roots, while the closer, For Lennart in Memoriam is a further 'installment' in the series of short orchestral pieces that began with Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, and is deeply moving. Perhaps silence is the only response to music like this, and also time to stop writing about it...
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By S. Bartlett
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you like Arvo Pärt, you'll love this. Those who don't will find no reason to change their mind, although Da Pacem Domine is just so glorious that even those died-in-the-wool Arvo antagonists would find difficulty in complaining about it. This is an absolute essential for any Pärt lover.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 11 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
