Arvo Part, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra And Choir - Orient & Occident

Thursday 1st May 2003
Arvo Part, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra And Choir - Orient & Occident
Arvo Part, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra And Choir - Orient & Occident

STYLE: Classical
RATING 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 7136-
LABEL: ECM New Series 4720802
FORMAT: CD Album

Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This album is a collection of three recent pieces by Estonia's leading composer, Arvo Part. The opening work is “Walfahrtslied Pilgrims’ Song” (1984). This version was re-written in 2001 for performance by men's choir and string orchestra. Next is the title track, “Orient & Occident” (2000), for string orchestra. Nora Part comments: “The underlying musical idea is a monophonic line which runs resolutely through the work, sometimes undisguised with the orchestra playing in unison, sometimes concealed in a rich chord. With perfect consistency, like links in a chain, tiny contrasting musical segments – orientally tinted monody and chordal density – converge, yet produce a gentle flowing stream of music.” The third and longest piece is “Como Cierva Sedienta”, a setting of Psalms 42 and 43 in Spanish. In less than an hour (there is time for more music on this CD) Part takes us across Europe. Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Tonu Kaljuste, give a first class performance.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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