Mystical Sound World

Of the several disks of the music of Arvo Part that I have, this was the first I bought and it remains my favourite. Much of Part's work is choral but this instrumental disk is extremely powerful. With the possible exception of the memorial to Benjamin Britten, this disk contains the most well known of his instrumental works, Fratres and Tabula Rasa. There is also a performance of Symphony No 3 by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi. Fratres is a piece for violin, string orchestra and percussion with violinist Gil Shaham and percussion by Roger Carlsson. It inhabits a similar soundworld to Tabula Rasa, a feeling of infinitude and loneliness, mystical and mysterious. Shaham is joined on Tabula Rasa by a second violinist Adele Anthony and the prepared piano of Erik Risburg which adds a particular other worldy texture. Part's music offers a sense of repose, simplicity, peace and beauty and something deeper than mere diversion and enjoyment. He has become something of a cult figure despite himself. I feel those who are simply cult followers prefer instrumental works such as these, which they can give their own spiritual spin and connection to the elemental in an almost Rite of Spring way, as opposed to Part's own preference for sacred choral music with more of a link to the orthodox tradition. The performances here are of benchmark quality from Shaham and co. The symphony also builds on the same kind of sound blocks as the two chamber pieces and this disk is the one to get if you only want a taster of Part.