Uncovering Arvo Pärt’s English roots

The Estonian composer, 89 this week, has been presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, an award dating back to 1871.

His son Michael outlined Arvo’s connection to English music:

‘Music is not just about sound, but a deep connection between the past and the present, between cultures and traditions, and between individual experiences. In my father’s work, this connection is embodied in the way he draws from early music traditions while creating something contemporary. And among the many traditions that have shaped his music, English choir music holds a very special place.

‘As a composer, my father’s journey towards his unique musical language – the tintinnabuli style – was not immediate. It was a journey of creative and spiritual exploration. His close connection with the sacred text, which is at the heart of his music, has been shaped by a profound reverence for choral and vocal traditions – traditions deeply rooted in the English early music. This bond becomes even more evident when we look at his collaborations with the renowned vocal ensemble, The Hilliard Ensemble, and their founder, Paul Hillier. Through their interpretations of Arvo’s music, a new dialogue was forged between old and new, past and present.

‘Paul Hillier has described how my father’s tintinnabuli style echoes the ringing of English church bells, with its subtle, evolving changes that create a sense of timelessness. This comparison highlights how my father’s music, though distinctly his own, resonates with the simplicity and spiritual depth found in early English music, returning to the fundamentals, to the beauty of a single note, a single word, or a single phrase.’