THE VERY BEST OF ARVO PART

CD1

1. Summa (1977) for choir

Jeremy Backhouse

2. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - O Weisheit

Jeremy Backhouse

3. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - O Adonai

Jeremy Backhouse

4. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - O Spross aus Isais Wurzel

Jeremy Backhouse

5. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - O Schlüssel Davids

Jeremy Backhouse

6. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - O Morgenstern

Jeremy Backhouse

7. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - O König aller Völker

Jeremy Backhouse

8. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - O Immanuel

Jeremy Backhouse

9. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - Fratres (1980 version) for violin and piano

Martin Roscoe

10. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - Festina lente for string orchestra and harp

Richard Studt

11. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - Spiegel im Spiegel for violin and piano

Martin Roscoe

12. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - Magnificat (1989)

Stephen Cleobury

13. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - The Beatitudes (1990, rev. 1991)

David Goode

14. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - Summa for string orchestra

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

15. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - Fratres for string orchestra and percussion

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

16. Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988, rev. 1991) - Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten for string orchestra and bell

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

CD2

1. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - Ludus (with movement)

Robert Aldwinckle

2. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - Silentium (without movement)

Tasmin Little

3. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - Summa

Chilingirian Quartet

4. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - Fratres

Chilingirian Quartet

5. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - De profundis (1980), for chorus, organ and percussion

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

6. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - Cantate Domino

Ene Salumae

7. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - Beatus Petronius

Ene Salumae

8. Tabula rasa for two violins, string orchestra and prepared piano - Solfeggio

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

9. Missa syllabica - I. Kyrie

Aarne Talvik

10. Missa syllabica - II. Gloria

Aarne Talvik

11. Missa syllabica - III. Credo

Aarne Talvik

12. Missa syllabica - IV. Sanctus

Aarne Talvik

13. Missa syllabica - V. Agnus Dei

Aarne Talvik

14. Missa syllabica - VI. Ite, missa est

Aarne Talvik

Arvo Pärt will celebrate his 75th birthday on 11 September 2010. This 2-CD commemorative set contains many of Pärt's best-known works including many composed in Pärt's new style, the most notable of which is Spiegel im Spiegel and Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten. Along with Gorecki, Arvo Pärt is the best-selling living composer of the last 20 years.

Pärt was born in Estonia at a time when the country was experiencing a short period of independence from its more powerful neighbours. In 1944, however, Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and, as a result, Pärt spent the greater part of his life struggling against the Soviet régime. In 1980 he and his family emigrated to Austria, where he took up Austrian citizenship; they returned to Estonia at the beginning of the new century and now live in the capital, Tallinn. Pärt's early works were influenced by Prokofiev and Shostakovich but the introduction of serialism into his music brought him into conflict with the authorities, who banned many of his earliest works.

This effected him deeply and resulted in a period of silent introspection during which time he took a great interest in early music. It was during the 1970s that Pärt developed the "Tintinnabuli Style" of music for which he has become most famous - and which has resonated with millions of listeners and consumers. This style of composition has been likened to minimalism and there are distinct similarities in the use of slow tempi and repeated notation.

EMI Classics 2cds 6294432