The music of Arvo Part draws on traditions stretching back across the centuries, yet it could only have been written by someone who had lived through the complexities and contradictions of the last half-century. In his native Estonia, his early music incurred the wrath of the Soviet authorities; when he moved to the West, his style offended against prevailing notions of taste and creativity. But at every stage, Part has pursued his own musical vision. Here is a survey of Part’s career, from early experiments with serialism, through musical collages that took their inspiration from Bach, to the discovery of his distinctive ‘tintinnabuli’ style, which unleashed a flood of innovative and fascinating new pieces. Released to coincide with the composer’s 70th birthday, this CD set is accompanied by an 80-page booklet.

CDs include music from: Fratres Passio Spiegel im Spiegel Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten Collage uber B-A-C-H the cello concerto Pro et contra and many other works.

On Two Discs