From one inspiring composer to the next - Arvo Pärt!
Alina - Arvo Pärt
The Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is a real treasure, he shows how music can change you and how long it takes until you find your own way and place in the world.
First, was occupied with music styles like the medieval and Rennaissance music than creating his own music. He converted from Lutheranism to the Russian Orthodox faith.
He was always criticized by the Soviet because of the influences of his music. He was finally allowed in 1980 to emigrate with his wife and their two sons.
Arvo Pärt was living in Vienna and Berlin, but he returned to Estonia around the turn of the 21st century. The pursuit of peace!
The CD Arvo Pärt: Alina was released in 1999. It provides 50 minutes of deep, sacral music, composed by Arvo Pärt.
All in all, it's indeed an album full of instrumental compositions, without any vocals and still so breathtaking.
Track List
Spiegel im Spiegel, for violin & piano
performed by Sergei Bezrodny / Vladimir Spivakov
Für Alina, for piano
performed by Alexander Malter
Spiegel im Spiegel, for violin & piano
performed by Alexander Malter / Dietmar Schwalke
Für Alina, for piano
Alexander Malter
Spiegel im Spiegel, for violin & piano
performed by Sergei Bezrodny / Vladimir Spivakov
The opening melody
Spiegel im Spiegel is a very gentle, with every note like a tiny step constantly forward moving, unique sound development.
The compositions consists of pure chords paired with a minimalist, repeating themes, filled with silence and thought. Shiny like a diamond.
Every movement seems to be like words hesitantly, reverently spoken, like a prayer.
Für Alina - such a sweet, melancholic tune. When I first heard it, a shiver went down my spine, not out of fear - out of complete bewilderment.
Others may say it's just a very sad song, but for me it is a very fascinating masterpiece. It may be filled with sadness, but the higher ranges used make your tears fade away.
Listening to that work makes you feel like you would be standing alone in a snow-covered street, watching the snow fall down, perceiving the small things on earth in a time lapse.
The pianists sounds like he would be exploring and trying to define what sound is. Wonderful!