The album centers around a never-before-released rendition of 'Silentium', the second movement of Pärt's most famous concerto, Tabula Rasa, performed by Boston-based chamber orchestra A Far Cry. The group plays 'Silentium' at nearly half the speed of the best-known version, released on ECM in 1984. The piece, known for its healing properties for the dying and often used in palliative care facilities (one patient famously called it "angel music"), is breathtaking at half speed, seemingly stilling time itself.
The album compiles some of the most stunning renditions of Pärt's music ever recorded. 'Vater Unser (Arr. for trombone & string ensemble)' is somehow warm and austere at once. A miniature epic. Pianist Marcel Worm's solo version of 'Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinuschka' is as beautiful as anything we've ever heard. 'Fratres for Strings and Percussion' is one of Arvo Pärt's most celebrated works.
The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra's version is iconic, filled with emotional playing right on the verge of overly romantic, but never tipping over. Pärt's approach to both music and life is as sparse as the compositions he creates. He once said, "I have nothing to say... Music says what I need to say. And it is dangerous to say anything, because if I've said it already in words there might be nothing left for my music."
The album compiles some of the most stunning renditions of Pärt's music ever recorded. 'Vater Unser (Arr. for trombone & string ensemble)' is somehow warm and austere at once. A miniature epic. Pianist Marcel Worm's solo version of 'Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinuschka' is as beautiful as anything we've ever heard. 'Fratres for Strings and Percussion' is one of Arvo Pärt's most celebrated works.
The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra's version is iconic, filled with emotional playing right on the verge of overly romantic, but never tipping over. Pärt's approach to both music and life is as sparse as the compositions he creates. He once said, "I have nothing to say... Music says what I need to say. And it is dangerous to say anything, because if I've said it already in words there might be nothing left for my music."
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: A stunning rendition of Silentium that's simmering with unease from the outset, but resolves slowly and through much dissonance and process, that's only one piece of this four-part epic, a stunning collection of pieces that people including and entirely limited to me are calling 'The Best Of Arvo Pärt'. Lovely.TRACK LISTING
1. Vater Unser (Arr. For Trombone & String Ensemble)
2. Variationen Zur Gesundung Von Arinuschka
3. Fratres For Strings And Percussion
4. Silentium