Germany honours Arvo Pärt
NewsThe German ambassador to Estonia has presented the minimalist composer, 86, with the Federal Cross of Merit at his Arvo Pärt Center in Laulasmaa.
Pärt was a Soviet exile in 1980s West Berlin.
He once said: ‘The German language inspired me to compose several works. The contact with many German-language texts has definitely shaped both me and my music. I am deeply grateful for that.’
From the motivation: ‘Never in music history has anyone said so much with so few notes.’
Indeed. If one would go farther, one ends up with John Cage – saying nothing without notes.
“”Minimalist composer”” .
Did he ever compose anything serious?
I scrolled through his “works”
Much ado about nothing!
Try playing or singing them. You may change your mind. IMHO he is a genius.
WHy try and sing or play his works to state my opinion?
Must I wrtite a novel to say I don’t like,let us says,George Owel 1984?OR must I paint because I say i don’t like Picasso?
I always wanted to read Mein Kampf to see if it’s indeed so awful what’s in there as so many people are saying. I got a copy from an uncle of mine when he returned from Delhi, it’s popular there, and began to read in it every night before sleeping, took it with me to my work but then it got confiscated & I don’t know how it ends.
Sally
Your loss, Piano Lover. The best of Arvo Part’s music will stand across the ages. He’s a significant, serious composer. If you haven’t heard his Te Deum, check it out:
https://www.amazon.com/Arvo-Part-Te-Deum/dp/B000024ZDF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=arvo+part+te+deum&qid=1636990580&qsid=141-7908199-1793026&sr=8-1&sres=B000024ZDF%2CB00U0S0NKO%2CB00ZUC7C9U%2CB014I6PALA%2CB000V87ZYA%2CB00004TB9Z%2C3838336747%2CB0096KHYJ0%2CB00L0ECC1K%2CB073LKT1X2%2CB0858VHQ1K%2C620313953X%2CB07F9GMJVN%2CB00B4897FQ%2CB08SYSWDLF%2C6203139521&srpt=ABIS_MUSIC
And if you don’t like Part’s Te Deum, well, that’s your loss as well.
I DID try to listen to some part of his te deum:no loss to me!
I completely agree. The Te Deum was the first piece I got to know. Immediately mesmerized and fallen for it. Now I own (almost?) his entire output on CD. He is the only living composer whose complete works I own and love. And I pity all those who can’t access his music.
Piano Lover,
As has been said in other places and other times, there comes a point in the acceptance of new work when the music is no longer on trial–the audience is. Your inability to appreciate Part’s music says more about you than about his work.
Try listening to his Passio (St. John Passion)–extraordinarily beautiful, expressive, and haunting.
I DID try to appreciate those works otherwise I would not talk about them you know.
I found the St John’s Passion a great bore. A whole long work on one chord.
SO are his other works:background “music” for nature documentary.
How lovely for him and so well deserved.
Well-deserved! Pärt is a great man. Even if he had only written Tabula Rasa and Fratres, he would still be a great man. The rest is a welcome bonus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu1BcNeebMI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od6GGVZITg8
A wonderful, talented composer.