Arvo Pärt
Musician · Estonia · b. 1935
Arvo Pärt is an influential Estonian composer known for his minimalist style and the unique tintinnabuli technique he invented.
Pärt began his musical education at the age of seven and was already composing by his early teenage years.
His first major work, "Credo," marked a significant turning point in his career, leading him to explore sacred music.
Biography
Early Life
Arvo Pärt was born on September 11, 1935, in Paide, Järva County, Estonia. Raised by his mother and stepfather in Rakvere, he began his musical journey at the age of seven, attending music school where he experimented with the family piano. By his teenage years, Pärt was already composing his own music. He studied at the Tallinn Music Middle School and later at the Tallinn Conservatory, where he honed his skills under the guidance of composer Heino Eller, graduating in 1963.
Career Development
Pärt's early career included composing music for film and stage, creating scores for over fifty movies. His first significant work, the cantata "Meie aed" ('Our Garden'), showcased his talent. However, a turning point came in 1968 with the composition of "Credo," which marked a shift towards sacred music and led to a creative crisis. This period of introspection lasted eight years, during which he studied medieval and Renaissance music. In the mid-1970s, Pärt re-emerged with a minimalist style characterized by his unique tintinnabuli technique, drawing inspiration from Gregorian chant. His most performed works include "Fratres" (1977) and "Spiegel im Spiegel" (1978).
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1972, Pärt converted to Orthodox Christianity, marrying his second wife, Nora, and they had a son, Michael. After facing challenges under Soviet rule, he emigrated to Vienna in 1980 and later settled in Berlin. The Pärt family established the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa in 2010, which opened to the public in 2018, serving as a hub for his work and legacy. Pärt has received numerous accolades, including the Knight of the Legion of Honour and the Polar Music Prize. He was recognized as the most performed living composer from 2011 to 2018 and continues to influence contemporary classical music.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Ikos1995
- 1.Alma Redemptoris mater (Marian Antiphon)1:52
- 2.Totus tuus8:55
- 3.Ave Maria (Offertory Antiphon)1:54
- 4.Amen6:13
- 5.Regina caeli laetare (Marian Antiphon)1:37
- 6.Magnificat6:22
- 7.Allelula, Venite ad me (Alleluia with verse)3:10
- 8.The Beatitudes5:57
- 9.Beati mundo corde (Communion Antiphon)1:36
- 10.Magnificat (Collegium Regale)7:00
- 11.Nunc dimittis (Collegium Regale)2:40
- 12.Requiem Aeternam (Introit Antiphon With Psalm Verse)1:55
- 13.Funeral Ikos7:35
- 14.Ego sum resurrectio et vita (Funeral Antiphon)0:48
- 15.In paradisum: Chorus angelorum (Funeral Antiphon)1:24
Fratres1994
- 1.Fratres (1980 version)11:23
- 2.Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten6:11
- 3.Summa5:22
- 4.Spiegel Im Spiegel8:16
- 5.Festina Lente6:07
- 6.Tabula Rasa: Ludus (with Movement)9:59
- 7.Tabula Rasa: Silentium (without Movement)16:22
Fratres1994
- 1.Fratres (for strings and percussion)10:15
- 2.Fratres (for violin, strings and percussion)12:02
- 3.Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten (for strings and one bell)7:11
- 4.Fratres (for wind octet and percussion)8:12
- 5.Fratres (for eight cellos)9:50
- 6.Summa (for strings)4:20
- 7.Fratres (for string quartet)10:00
- 8.Festina lente (for strings and harp ad libitum)6:43
- 9.Fratres (for cello and piano)10:28
Rachmaninov, Schnittke: Cello Sonatas / Pärt: Fratres1994
- 1.Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 19: I. Lento. Allegro moderato13:56
- 2.Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 19: II. Allegro scherzando6:32
- 3.Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 19: III. Andante6:35
- 4.Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 19: IV. Allegro mosso11:03
- 5.Sonata for Cello and Piano: I. Largo4:39
- 6.Sonata for Cello and Piano: II. Presto6:16
- 7.Sonata for Cello and Piano: III. Largo11:06
- 8.Fratres for Cello and Piano12:45
Zappa / Lutosławski / Lupone / Pärt1994
- 1.From the Song Book: Uncle Meat1:52
- 2.From the Song Book: Oh No2:15
- 3.From the Song Book: Igor's Boogie1:05
- 4.From the Song Book: The Idiot Bastard Son2:23
- 5.From the Song Book: Little House I Used to Live In3:05
- 6.From the Song Book: Music For Electric Violin (And Low-Budget Orchestra)1:40
- 7.From the Song Book: Let's Make the Water Turn Black1:50
- 8.Partita: Allegro giusto3:54
- 9.Partita: Ad libitum0:48
- 10.Partita: Largo5:53
- 11.Partita: Ad libitum0:53
- 12.Partita: Presto3:33
- 13.Ciclo Astrale: Parte seconda (Per violino, nastro magnetico, live electronics, fly 30)11:33
- 14.Fratres10:38
Turku Ensemble1994
- 1.Potpourri9:41
- 2.Kvintettino: I1:00
- 3.Kvintettino: II1:59
- 4.Kvintettino: III1:02
- 5.Schott-konsertto: Largo - Allegro5:51
- 6.Schott-konsertto: Largo - Vivace - Adagio9:52
- 7.Schott-konsertto: Allegro vivace6:20
- 8.Divertimento Uppsaliensis: Allegretto3:18
- 9.Divertimento Uppsaliensis: Adagio4:55
- 10.Divertimento Uppsaliensis: Allegro vivace4:19
Tubin: String Quartet / Elegy / Piano Quartet / Tüür: String Quartet / Pärt: Fratres1993
- 1.String Quartet: I. Allegro ma non troppo, ma energico8:29
- 2.String Quartet: II. Andante4:16
- 3.String Quartet: III. Allegro vivace4:26
- 4.String Quartet: IV. Fuga2:35
- 5.Eleegia. Adagio3:27
- 6.Piano Quartet15:24
- 7.String Quartet: I. Crotchet = 805:36
- 8.String Quartet: II. Tempo ad libitum11:32
- 9.Fratres for String Quartet10:04
Te Deum1993
- 1.Te Deum28:55
- 2.Silouans Song5:41
- 3.Magnificat6:48
- 4.Berliner Messe: I. Kyrie3:09
- 5.Berliner Messe: II. Gloria3:43
- 6.Berliner Messe: III. Erster Alleluiavers0:53
- 7.Berliner Messe: IV. Zweiter Alleluiavers1:10
- 8.Berliner Messe: V. Veni Sancte Spiritus4:58
- 9.Berliner Messe: VI. Credo3:57
- 10.Berliner Messe: VII. Sanctus4:05
- 11.Berliner Messe: VIII. Agnus Dei2:41
Collage1993
- 1.Collage Sur B-A-C-H: I. Toccata. Preciso2:45
- 2.Collage Sur B-A-C-H: II. Sarabande. Lento3:33
- 3.Collage Sur B-A-C-H: III. Ricercar. Deciso1:33
- 4.Summa for string orchestra4:19
- 5.Wenn Bach Bienen gezüchtet hätte7:34
- 6.Fratres10:00
- 7.Symphony no. 2: I. 104-1206:53
- 8.Symphony no. 2: II. 1123:07
- 9.Symphony no. 2: III. 48-604:46
- 10.Festina Lente5:53
- 11.Credo12:38
Pärt: Berliner Messe / Harrison: Mass to St. Anthony1993
- 1.Mass to Saint Anthony: Kyrie4:41
- 2.Mass to Saint Anthony: Gloria5:05
- 3.Mass to Saint Anthony: Credo5:02
- 4.Mass to Saint Anthony: Sanctus7:29
- 5.Mass to Saint Anthony: Agnus Dei3:18
- 6.Berliner Messe: Kyrie2:22
- 7.Berliner Messe: Gloria4:24
- 8.Berliner Messe: Erster Alleluia0:55
- 9.Berliner Messe: Zweiter Alleluia1:15
- 10.Berliner Messe: Veni Sancte Spiritus5:29
- 11.Berliner Messe: Credo4:55
- 12.Berliner Messe: Sanctus1:58
- 13.Berliner Messe: Agnus Dei2:00
New Piano Works From Europe and the Americas1993
- 1.Variationen zur Gesendung von Arinuschka for piano: I.
- 2.Variationen zur Gesendung von Arinuschka for piano: II.
- 3.Variationen zur Gesendung von Arinuschka for piano: III.
- 4.Variationen zur Gesendung von Arinuschka for piano: IV.
- 5.Variationen zur Gesendung von Arinuschka for piano: V.
- 6.Variationen zur Gesendung von Arinuschka for piano: VI.
- 7.Perpetual Tango for piano, realization: Manuel Juarez
- 8.Quattro Illustrazioni for piano: I.
- 9.Quattro Illustrazioni for piano: II.
- 10.Quattro Illustrazioni for piano: III.
- 11.Quattro Illustrazioni for piano: IV.
- 12.Perpetual Tango for piano, realization: Erik Oña
- 13.An Tasten for piano
- 14.Perpetual Tango for piano, realization: Cecilia Villanueva
- 15.Brin for piano
- 16.Leaf for piano
- 17.Perpetual Tango for piano, realization: Mariano Etkin
- 18.Davidsbündlertanz No. 14 "Zart und singend" for piano in E-flat major, Op. 6/14
- 19.Eusebius, Four Nocturnes for one piano, No. 1
- 20.Eusebius, Four Nocturnes for one piano, No. 2
- 21.Eusebius, Four Nocturnes for one piano, No. 3
- 22.Eusebius, Four Nocturnes for one piano, No. 4
- 23.One Nocturne for four pianos
- 24.Perpetual Tango for piano, realization: Gabriel Valverde
- 25.Ek-Stasis for piano and tape
- 26.Für Alina for piano
Magnificat Antiphonen1992
Tracklist not collected yet.
Trivium1992
Tracklist not collected yet.
Mozart / Scelsi / Pärt / Bärtschi / Busoni1992
- 1.Fantasie c-Moll, KV 47512:01
- 2.Vier Illustrationen zu den Verwandlungen Vishnus: Shésha – Shàyi Vishnu2:51
- 3.Vier Illustrationen zu den Verwandlungen Vishnus: Varaha – Avatàra3:11
- 4.Vier Illustrationen zu den Verwandlungen Vishnus: Rama – Avatàra2:16
- 5.Vier Illustrationen zu den Verwandlungen Vishnus: Krishna – Avatàra2:46
- 6.Für Alina2:04
- 7.Adagio h-Moll, KV 5408:55
- 8.Frühmorgens am Daubensee7:01
- 9.Toccata11:15
- 10.Sonate B-Dur, KV 333: Allegro5:29
- 11.Sonate B-Dur, KV 333: Andante cantabile5:14
- 12.Sonate B-Dur, KV 333: Allegretto grazioso6:32
In Croce1991
Tracklist not collected yet.
Miserere1991
Tracklist not collected yet.
Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra / Symphony for Cello and Orchestra / Four Sea Interludes from "Peter Grimes" / Pärt: Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten1989
Tracklist not collected yet.
Cello Concerto "Pro et contra" / Perpetuum Mobile / Symphony no. 1 "Polyphonic" / Symphony no. 2 / Symphony no. 31989
Tracklist not collected yet.
Passio1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
Amici Cantus sings Madetoja, Milhaud, Poulenc, Rautavaara and Pärt1987
Tracklist not collected yet.
Arbos1987
Tracklist not collected yet.
Tabula Rasa1984
Tracklist not collected yet.
Joseph Haydn / Paul Hindemith / Jaan Rääts / Arvo Pärt1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Sinfonia n. 1 / Perpetuum mobile / Collage sur B-A-C-H / Musica sillabica / Pro et contra1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Pärt: Polüfooniline sümfoonia / Perpetuum mobile / Rääts: Sümfoonia nr. 41966
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- ECM Records
Achievements
- Award
- Classic Brit Awards
- Award
- Honorary Member of the International Society for Contemporary Music
- Award
- Polar Music Prize
- Award
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Award
- Herder Prize
- Award
- Praemium Imperiale
- Award
- Léonie Sonning Music Prize
- Award
- Recipient of the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 1st Class
- Award
- Honorary doctor of the University of Liège
- Award
- Ratzinger Prize
- Award
- honorary doctor of Durham University
- Award
- Honorary doctor of the University of Fribourg
- Award
- honorary doctor of the University of St Andrews
- Award
- Coat of Arms of Tallinn
- Award
- Austrian Decoration for Science and Art
- Award
- honorary doctor of the University of Sydney
- Award
- Golden Medal for Merit to Culture
- Award
- Officer of the Order of the Oak Crown
- Award
- Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit
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Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: A. Pärt, Arvo Part, Avro Part, Pärt
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian composer. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs tintinnabuli, a compositional technique he invented. Pärt's music is in part inspired by Gregorian chant. His most performed works include Fratres (1977), Spiegel im Spiegel (1978), and Für Alina (1976). From 2011 to 2018, and again in 2022 and 2025, Pärt was the most performed living composer in the world. The Arvo Pärt Centre, in Laulasmaa, was opened to the public in 2018.
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