Arvo Part: Adam's Lament (2012) [Official Digital Download]

Acclaimed conductor Tonu Kaljuste leads an exquisite lineup of orchestral and choral forces through this scintillating new release. Compositions featured, in premiere recordings made in Tallinn’s Niguliste Church, are: Adam’s Lament for choir and string orchestra; Beatus Petronius for two choirs, eight woodwind instruments, tubular bells and string orchestra; Salve Regina for choir, celesta and string orchestra; Statuit ei Dominus for two choirs, woodwinds and string orchestra; Alleluia-Tropus for choir and string orchestra; L'Abbé Agathon for soprano, baritone, female choir and string orchestra. The album concludes with two lullabies – Estonian Lullaby and Christmas Lullaby – for female choir and string orchestra.

Minimalist composers both Western and Eastern, and both Holy and Secular, have moderated the radical simplicity of their music, both drawing on functional harmony and creating dramatic structures of their own devising. This beautifully recorded album collects music by Arvo Pärt, most of it composed (or at least revised) since the turn of the century. Performed by a superb group of Baltic musicians, the album makes a fine choice for those wishing to explore new directions in Pärt's music. The title work, composed in 2009, is in response to a joint commission from the cities of Tallinn and Istanbul. Based on texts by a contemporary Orthodox saint, Silouan of Mount Athos in Greece (the texts are not included), it takes Adam's banishment from paradise as its theme. Like several other works on the album, it uses elements of Orthodox chant, mixing it with high string sounds and choral homophony. Some of the shorter works on the album are closer to Pärt's classic style, but none (not even Beatus Petronius, track 2, which includes a set of tubular bells in the orchestra) really makes use of Pärt's trademark tintinnabulation bell effect. He has not moved into dramatic music in the way that, say, Philip Glass has, but dialogue among discrete groups plays a greater role in this music than it did in his earlier works. The variety is all to the good, and the two small, absolutely limpid lullabies that close the program are quite memorable. The album was assembled from recordings made in several different places, by several different groups: the Latvian Radio Choir, Vox Clamantis, and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, with Estonian and Latvian orchestras. But Tõnu Kaljuste serves as conductor throughout, and each sound environment reflects the music heard; there is no sense of an anthology. Strongly recommended for Pärt fans.

Tracklist:

01 - Adam's Lament
02 - Beatus Petronius
03 - Salve Regina
04 - Statuit ei Dominus
05 - Alleluia-Tropus
06 - L'Abbe Agathon
07 - Estonian Lullaby
08 - Christmas Lullaby


Thanks to the Original customer!