Week 2: Arvo Pärt, Composer

Mr. Arvo Pärt is currently one of the most sought-after composers for new music, especially for choirs. He was born on September 11, 1935, in a country called Estonia, located south of Finland. From 1958 to 1967 he was employed as a recording director and a composer of music for film and television for the music division of Estonian Radio. During this time he studied composition under Heino Eller at the Tallinn Conservatory, graduating in 1963. At one point in his life, he quite writing music; however, in 1976, he began to compose again, starting his own style he liked to call tintinnabuli, which is Latin for "little bells." Like the ringing of little bells, his music has many quiet moments. Silence is an important element in Pärt's music, and especially as it contrasts to the sounds that precede and follow it. Pärt was also inspired by medieval religious music. Like Gregorian chant, his compositions move along serenely at their own pace, sometimes just a single note at a time.
The video above is a recording of one of Pärt's well-known pieces, De Profundis. While listening to the piece, one can hear the similarities of Pärt's music with medieval music. I believe this piece is absolutely beautiful, and hopefully you will think so, too!