Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Estonian National Symphony Orchestra; Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; Tanu Kaljuste conductor: Arvo Part: In Principio

by C. Michael Bailey
March 7, 2009

Estonian composer Arvo Part (b. 1935) is the Dean of Choral Music composition, specifically that for the Orthodox Church. Any release of recently composed Part music is an occasion. Add the spacious sonics ECM provides recordings of his compositions and it's a true event. Release of In Principio marks the 25th anniversary of Arvo Part's inauguration of ECM's New Series (with Tabula Rasa in 1984), an association that has brilliantly captured the music of this modern master.

The title composition ...