Customer Reviews

In Principio

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Pärt's done it again. His latest release under the ECM New Series lable is brilliant, displaying some of his most mature and inspired work yet (which is saying something). There are six pieces here, four of them never before released, the other two new versions of previously released pieces.

The opening and titular piece, "In Principio", consists of five movements, clocks in at nearly twenty minutes, and is scored for choir and full orchestra. As his other pieces of the past several years that employed full orchestra have already shown and is here reinforced, Pärt is able to use the orchestra to great effect and color. It's a stirring piece, often sounding more overtly classical than many of his other pieces (classical in the Mozart, Beethoven, etc. sense). As another reviewer observed, it sometimes sounds like Mozart's Requiem, though I would add that its color and simple austerity keep it from sounding merely imitative, which it isn't.

"La Sindone", this time for orchestra alone, is a haunting piece of music. Over its fifteen minute running length, it establishes an ever more apparent sense of mystery and tension, building up to a climax before levelling off in an otherworldly E-flat chord for strings.

"Cecilia, vergine romana", up till now, could only be heard in snipets on the Pärt documentary, "24 Preludes for a Fugue", and those snipets indicated a sublimity that made this perhaps the most personally anticipated track on the album. It's a beautiful piece, culminating in a magnificent finale.

"Da Pacem Domine" was first heard on the 2005 release "Lamentate", where it was beautifully arranged for a small vocal ensemble. But here, it's scored for a larger ensemble, and string accompaniment. This new scoring adds a beauty and depth to the piece that make it truly superior to the older recording. A fantastic track.

"Mein Weg", originally scored for organ, now appears for strings and percussion. At first, it seems like the odd-man out, with its dissonances and aggitated feel. But by the end of the piece, it's proven its right to be on this album, and in fact provides a nice change of tone from that of the previous tracks.

The final piece, "Für Lennart", is an achingly beautiful piece written in memory of that other notable Estonian, Lennart Meri, politician, film-maker, and writer. Anything I might add would only subtract from the sublimity of this piece. A great end to the album.

As is to be expected from ECM, the recording quality is top-notch, and the packaging is very nice. All in all, a fantastic album, and a gem in the already lusterous crown of Arvo Pärt's oeuvre. Highly recommended. Now all we can do is hope that the next release won't take another four years, and until then, enjoy the music.

On first listen the performance sounded an amalgamation of Mozart Requiem, Glass's Mishima soundtrack and Barber. What impresses is the combinations of what should be opposing elements. It is both somber and yet unceasingly energetic. The pieces are melodic, but also display the unfurling of sequenced repetition. Maybe the fundamental dichotomy that underlies and propels the work is the use of modern stasis technique to color an homage to basic european tradition. This is music that must be attended; it may display the usual ECM warm sonics, but it is hardly ambient in nature. This is the premiere of a serious concert; formal wear optional.

Every track on this recording is a pleasant and wonderful surprise. Part has produced a modern masterpiece! He is fresh, spiritual, sometimes almost elusive - carrying your mind to new places and beautiful vistas within your heart. One has to experience this recording and live its many triumphs!

I read about Arvo Pärt in Paste magazine, in which I usually learn about the latest in new music. So I was a bit surprised by them including a review of what sounded like classical music.

Yes, "In Principio" is choral music, sort of classical and all that. But it's so much more at the same time. Pärt has said that his music "is similar to light going through a prism: the music may have a slightly different meaning for each listener, thus creating a spectrum of musical experience, similar to the rainbow of light."

This is not "cleaning-your-house" music or something to have on in the background while you file stuff on your desk... this is music intended to be listened to through good headphones in a comfortable chair. It has so many layers and textures and harmonies and threads... I ordered a CD rather than a download because I want to make sure to get the liner notes and understand as much as I can about what is being played and sung. His latest album has five compositions about the Book of John, and he often dedicates music (requiems, mostly) to those killed through political injustice.

It is moving music. You have to listen to it several times before it really sinks in. It is indeed classical music, in that it is definitely not trendy. This is music for the ages. It speaks to your soul.

Though now the name of Arvo Pärt has become a household name in the field of contemporary classical music, few will be unable to deny that this particular CD, IN PRINCIPIO, is one of the finest recordings of the spectrum of the works of this Estonian composer. Often CDs that select certain works to fill out the time frame of a CD will pay little attention to the 'filler': on this recording there is no filler to be found. True, the huge work on this CD is the title work, a work for large orchestra and mixed chorus, a nearly half hour of sheer ecstasy. Based on the scripture 'In the beginning was the word...' Pärt grounds this solemn piece with a deep bass emergence form the orchestra, couples that with the very appropriate choral statement that lies on one plane, uttering the holy words, while the orchestra seethes below the vocal line. Some may find traces of other composers' works - quotational themes so to speak - but that only serves to heighten the interest create by this magnum opus. This work performed by the Tallin Chamber Orchestra; Estonian Symphony Orchestra; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tõnu Kaljuste conducting, is well worth the purchase of this recording. The sound is spacious, as it must be, and the choral work never approaches the surface in less than a beautiful quality of tone.

There are other works of chorus and orchestra which are stunningly atmospheric - 'Da pacem Domine', here heard for the first time in the accompanied version (the original work was an a cappella piece, and the 'Caecilia, vergine romana' written for the celebration of the jubilee of Rome in 2000. The remainder of the works here performed are for orchestra alone - 'La Sindone' (The holy shroud) which creates the sense of viewing through the shroud, so delicate and sparse is the writing, 'Mein Weg', and the quiet 'Für Lennart in memoriam' - Pärt's elegy for Lennart Georg Meri, the late Estonian president. Each of these pieces stands alone as some of Arvo Pärt's finest work. Would that we could hear them in the concert halls in this country more frequently! Grady Harp, June 10

While long being an admirer of Part's works I have been ambivalent about some of his offerings where it seems too little musical material is stretched over too long a time and where unrelieved stasis is the end product ( e.g Stabat Mater ).

That is not the case with this latest ECM-Part issue.

In Principio - is a setting of the prologue of St. John's gospel contrasting chamber music-like meditative moments with dramatic symphonic climaxes .

Cecilia Vergine Romana - is a masterpiece with an astounding range of soundscapes and emotions distilled into sixteen and a half minutes. Whereas In Principio reminds one at times of Bruckner , this work is more Mahlerian with delicate harp and woodwind effects juxtaposed with aggressive brass figures.

La Sindone - a purely orchestral work, occupies a similar sound world to Cecilia Vergine Romana.

The other works on this disc are more familiar in style though it is fascinating to compare the orchestral setting of Mein Weg with its dramatic drum beats and tolling bells with the more detached style of the previous released organ setting ( 1992., ECM 1431 )

Overall this CD is an unqualified success and shows that Part is a fully mature great composer.

Arvo Part composes music that seems intimate and monumental at the same time. There is glory, wonder and magic in his creations and I always feel uplifted (if sometimes a bit exhausted) after listening to one of his larger works. This is a superb recording and highly recommended. (NOTE: I would love to hear from others who are attempting to introduce his work to more Americans.)

Wonderful and beautiful. One not need be a fan of choral and orchestral music to love THIS music. It transcends genre. It does not require any specific taste or knowledge to appreciate that it is just brilliant music.

The CD arrived in perfect condition and in a timely manner. Thank you for doing a wonderful job, amazon!

Most all of the selections on the disc are in the top category with regard to excellence of composition and performance. I have the impression that this is contemporary classical music that will have staying power over time, and in the concert halls.