Arvo Part... Where have you been my whole life?


My interest in classical music didn't really develop until about five years ago, so I'm still a novice compared to many of the folks here on A'gon. I tend to listen to a lot of small scale chamber music and choral music.

I've had Part's Tabula Rasa for years and always liked it, but for some reason I never delved further. I guess it's because I tend to avoid modern classical. In any case, I just started listening to some of his other works -- Te Deum, De Profundis, Alina, Litany. They are beautiful.

Can anyone recommend other works, either by Part or by similar composers? Thanks.

Bryon
bryoncunningham

Showing 1 response by emorrisiv

Being a long time choirister;I have had the opportunity to sing a lot of "modern" music including Part.The composer that I have always associated (in my mind)with Part is John Tavener. Perhaps it is because they seemed to appear on the scene at the same time. It could also be the fact that Tavener has a Byzantine tendency in his choice of liturgical texts. Indeed his "Ikon" is obviously so,and anyone that saw Lady Diana's funeral had to be blown away by Tavener's "Song for Athene".
Part is in most ways his own man. He has dark complex sounds that remind me of something like Howells but without the Anglican influence.Both are very difficult to sing and most choirs won't attempt. (thank god!)