Arvo Pärt: De Profundis [Import]

Arvo Part (Composer), Paul Hillier (Conductor), Theatre of Voices (Performer), Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Theatre of Voices, Christopher Bowers-Broadbent
• Conductor: Paul Hillier
• Composer: Arvo Part
• Audio CD (March 10, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B0000007FL
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,732 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #49 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Magnificats
  • #69 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Anthems

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Marx and Lenin probably would not have appreciated the irony, but after decades of Communist repression of religion, the former Soviet bloc is the source of a profound outpouring of explicitly Christian expression. This is manifested in the music of such composers as Henryk Gorecki, a Pole, and Arvo Pärt, an Estonian. Part, a refugee from serialism, here writes in a quasi-minimalist style that he calls "tintinnabuli," a sound that echoes medieval composition. A fan of vocal music ("The human voice is the most perfect instrument of all"), he uses choruses to superb effect. This disc includes some of his best work, including the popular Magnificat, beautifully rendered by the Theatre of Voices under Paul Hillier. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Power and Grace, January 9, 2002

By 

L.D. (Philadelphia, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arvo Pärt: De Profundis (Audio CD)

Hillier's Theatre of Voices gives an absolutely wonderful rendering of Pärt's work. The music is amazing, recalling medieval choral music as well as contemporary ideas in musical composition. Pärt manages to touch on a wide range of feeling throughout all of these compositions, conveying emotion while maintaining the kind of austerity of sound found in medieval chant. Ultimately, the CD provides a moving and enjoyable listening experience. I would recommend it to both seasoned fans of choral music and neophytes alike.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich, lovely, unmatched music, July 23, 2001

By 

Jennifer A. Johnson "jabbl" (St. George, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arvo Pärt: De Profundis (Audio CD)

This music is gorgeous, whether you think you like choral music or not.

The first time I heard Arvo Part, I was browsing in a music store and stopped to listen with a pair of crummy headphones. The sounds and tone drew me into another world, one made lovely by the rich and carefully-worked composition of a master.

The recording is perfect. The music is like nothing else I've heard, more deeply-felt and inspiring than anything I'm familiar with. I would not call myself a fan of choruses, but Part's work is extraordinary.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Profound, February 5, 2004

By 

"goldeneagle2003" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arvo Pärt: De Profundis (Audio CD)

I picked up this wonderful gem on a whim. As sacristan for my Jesuit university campus ministry, I was looking for good and movintg religious music. This surpasses anything being marketed as "liturgical" music for churches.

Part creates music that is beatiful, moving and profound. It transported me to another world; it is a deeply moving experience. Some of these tracks have already become my favorite works of musical art as well as meditative prayers.