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

I agree with T_Bone. Part is fairly unique when it comes to style. While I enjoy Kancheli and Gubaidalina I think a different approach may be to go back in time instead of looking for similar contemporary composers. Try Thomas Tallis "Spem in alium" or masses by William Byrd or even some gregorian chant. I find this is where Part draws a lot of his inspiration from.

As to Part recommendations, anything from ECM label has been worthwhile. Great pieces played by dedicated performers in very good sound.

If you try and like the orchestra pieces in "Arbos" you may want to also try Janacek's "Glagolitic Mass". Another stylisticaly interesting composer with a unique sound world

A bit different from those already mentioned but definitely worth checking into is Valentin Silvestrov.

Good recommendation. I have a few Silvestrov recordings. A favorite is the Symphony No. 5/Posludium disc by Sony Records. David Robertson conducts the Deutches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin with Alexei Lubimov, piano.

You may also enjoy the work of Max Richter although some of his compositions can push toward experimental. I am just beginning to explore modern classical/avant garde and it seems it is a genre rich with incredibly talented artists like Arvo Part.

A couple of other modern classical records I really enjoy are Richard Skelton's Marking Time (Preservation) and the work of Olafur Arnalds, check out And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness (Erased Tape Records).

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have a lot of listening to do. :-)

Bryon

There are a lot of exelent suggestions already but I would like to add Alfred Schnittke. He is different from Part, I would say more "experimental" for the lack of better word. His Concerto's and violin concerto's are among my absolut favorits in contemporary classic pieces.
Part's Miserere and Lamentante as well.

Sergey.