Arvo Part - The Very Best of Arvo Part‎ (2010)

Released to celebrate Arvo Pärt's 75th birthday in September 2010, this 2-CD commemorative set contains many of his best-known works including many composed in Pärt's new style, the most notable of which is Spiegel im Spiegel and Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten. Along with Gorecki, Arvo Pärt is the best-selling living composer of the last 20 years.

Once a member of the avant-garde, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt has for over 40 years been a leading composer in the 'New spirituality' style. His musical fingerprints are well-loved an unmistakable. spare harmonies, simple phrases and gentle, tender expression in search of peace in a busy world. This collection brings together many of his best-known choral and instrumental works.

Pärt was born in Estonia at a time when the country was experiencing a short period of independence from its more powerful neighbours. In 1944, however, Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and, as a result, Pärt spent the greater part of his life struggling against the Soviet régime. In 1980 he and his family emigrated to Austria, where he took up Austrian citizenship; they returned to Estonia at the beginning of the new century and now live in the capital, Tallinn.

Pärt's early works were influenced by Prokofiev and Shostakovich but the introduction of serialism into his music brought him into conflict with the authorities, who banned many of his earliest works.

This affected him deeply and resulted in a period of silent introspection during which time he took a great interest in early music. It was during the 1970s that Pärt developed the "Tintinnabuli Style" of music for which he has become most famous - and which has resonated with millions of listeners and consumers. This style of composition has been likened to minimalism and there are distinct similarities in the use of slow tempi and repeated notation.

Composer: Arvo Pärt
Performer: Martin Roscoe, Tasmin Little, David Goode, Richard Studt, Robert Aldwinckle, Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, Kaia Urb, Tiit Kogermann, Mati Turi, Vilve Hepner, Aarne Talvik
Conductor: Jeremy Backhouse, Richard Studt, Stephen Cleobury, Paavo Järvi, Tönu Kaljuste

Tracklisting:

1. Summa by Arvo Pärt
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1978; Estonia
Venue: All Saints Church, Petersham, Surrey, En
Length: 4 Minutes 59 Secs.
2. Magnificat Antiphons (7) by Arvo Pärt
Conductor: Jeremy Backhouse
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1988/1991
Venue: Church of St Giles, Cripplegate, London
Length: 11 Minutes 30 Secs.
3. Fratres by Arvo Pärt
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1977-1980; Estonia
Venue: All Saints Church, Petersham, Surrey, En
Length: 11 Minutes 21 Secs.
4. Festina lente by Arvo Pärt
Conductor: Richard Studt
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1988-1990; Vienna, Austria
Venue: Abbey Church, Milton Abbey School, Bland
Length: 6 Minutes 7 Secs.
5. Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt
Performer: Martin Roscoe (Piano), Tasmin Little (Violin)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1978; USSR
Venue: Abbey Church, Milton Abbey School, Bland
Length: 8 Minutes 16 Secs.
6. Magnificat by Arvo Pärt
Performer: David Goode (Organ)
Conductor: Stephen Cleobury
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1989; Germany
Venue: Chapel of King's College, Cambridge
Length: 6 Minutes 22 Secs.
7. The Beatitudes by Arvo Pärt
Performer: David Goode (Organ)
Conductor: Stephen Cleobury
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1990/1991; Germany
Venue: Chapel of King's College, Cambridge
Length: 5 Minutes 56 Secs.
8. Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten by Arvo Pärt
Conductor: Paavo Järvi
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1976; Estonia
Venue: Estonia Concert Hall, Tallinn
Length: 6 Minutes 48 Secs.
9. Tabula Rasa by Arvo Pärt
Performer: Richard Studt (Violin), Robert Aldwinckle (Harpsichord), Tasmin Little (Violin)
Conductor: Richard Studt
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1976; Estonia
Venue: Abbey Church, Milton Abbey School, Bland
Length: 27 Minutes 15 Secs.
10. De profundis by Arvo Pärt
Performer: Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (Organ), Kaia Urb (), Tiit Kogermann (),
Mati Turi (), Vilve Hepner (), Aarne Talvik ()
Conductor: Tönu Kaljuste
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1977-1980; Estonia
Venue: All Hallows' Church, Gospel Oak, London,
Length: 5 Minutes 34 Secs.
11. Cantate Domino by Arvo Pärt
Performer: Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (Organ), Kaia Urb (), Tiit Kogermann (),
Vilve Hepner (), Mati Turi (), Aarne Talvik ()
Conductor: Tönu Kaljuste
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1977; Estonia
Venue: All Hallows' Church, Gospel Oak, London,
Length: 2 Minutes 43 Secs.
12. Beatus Petronius by Arvo Pärt
Performer: Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (Organ), Kaia Urb (), Tiit Kogermann (),
Mati Turi (), Vilve Hepner (), Aarne Talvik ()
Conductor: Tönu Kaljuste
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1990; Germany
Venue: All Hallows' Church, Gospel Oak, London,
Length: 5 Minutes 9 Secs.
13. Solfeggio by Arvo Pärt
Performer: Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (Organ), Mati Turi (), Tiit Kogermann (),
Aarne Talvik (), Vilve Hepner (), Kaia Urb ()
Conductor: Tönu Kaljuste
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1964; Estonia
Venue: All Hallows' Church, Gospel Oak, London,
Length: 4 Minutes 3 Secs.
14. Missa sillabica by Arvo Pärt
Performer: Mati Turi (), Tiit Kogermann (), Vilve Hepner (),
Aarne Talvik (), Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (Organ), Kaia Urb ()
Conductor: Tönu Kaljuste
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1977; Estonia
Venue: All Hallows' Church, Gospel Oak, London,
Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.