Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

In 1980 the Estonian Arvo Part moved to the West, partly because of hostility to his Christian faith from the Soviet authorities. One of the first pieces he composed after this was the St John Passion or, to give it the full title, Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem. The text (John 18 and 19), like the title, is Latin and a translation is supplied. The music is uniquely Part’s: he follows his own rule-book when he composes. He calls this process tintinnabuli. In brief, the melody and accompaniment are one. For a clearer explanation read Antony Pitts’ helpful notes. Pitts is the founder and director of the Oxford ensemble Tonus Peregrinus who do full justice to what is a difficult score. Robert Macdonald, the bass who sings the part of Jesus, is especially good. A brief review cannot do this work justice. Thanks to Naxos you can investigate this for yourself for less than £5-00. Please do so.

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