Arvo Pärt was born in Paide, Järva County, Estonia. His musical studies began in 1954 at the Tallinn Music Secondary School, interrupted less than a year later while he fulfilled his National Service obligation as oboist and side-drummer in an army band. He returned to Middle School for a year before joining the Tallinn Conservatory in 1957, where his composition teacher was Professor Heino Eller. Pärt started work as a recording engineer with Estonian Radio, wrote music for the stage and received numerous commissions for film scores so that, by the time he graduated from the Conservatory in 1963, he could already be considered a professional composer. A year before leaving, he won first prize in the All-Union Young Composers' Competition for a children's cantata, Our Garden, and an oratorio, Stride of the World.
Today Arvo Pärt is best known for his choral works, which he started to produce in the 1980s, after his emigration from the former Soviet Union to Germany, Berlin. Before that he had written his most recognised works from the 1970s, Fratres, Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten, and Tabula Rasa. In 1978 Pärt composed Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in Mirror).
Pärt's oeuvre is generally divided into two periods. His early works ranged from rather severe neo-classical styles influenced by Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Bartók. He then began to compose using Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique and serialism. This, however, not only earned the ire of the Soviet establishment, but also proved to be a creative dead-end. When early works were banned by Soviet censors, Pärt entered the first of several periods of contemplative silence, during which he studied choral music from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries.
The spirit of early European polyphony informed the composition of Pärt's transitional third symphony (1971); thereafter he immersed himself in early music, re-investigating the roots of western music. He studied plainsong, Gregorian chant, and the emergence of polyphony in the Renaissance. The music that began to emerge after this period was radically different. This period of new compositions included Fratres, Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten, and Tabula rasa.
Pärt describes it as tintinnabuli: like the ringing of bells. The music is characterised by simple harmonies, often single unadorned notes, or triad chords which form the basis of western harmony. These are reminiscent of ringing bells. Tintinnabuli works are rhythmically simple, and do not change tempo. The influence of early music is clear. Another characteristic of Pärt's later works is that they are frequently settings for sacred texts, although he mostly chooses Latin or the Church Slavonic language used in Orthodox liturgy instead of his native Estonian language. Large-scale works inspired by religious texts include St John Passion, Te Deum, and Litany. Choral works from this period include Magnificat and The Beatitudes.
A new composition, Für Lennart, written for the memory of the Estonian President Lennart Meri, was played at his funeral service on 2nd April 2006. In response to the murder of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow on 7th October 2006, Pärt declared that all his works performed in 2006-2007 would be in commemoration of her death.
Pärt was honoured as the featured composer of the 2008 RTÉ Living Music Festival in Dublin, Ireland. He was also recently commissioned by Louth Contemporary Music Society to compose a new choral work based on St Patrick's Breastplate, to be premiered in 2008 in Louth, Ireland.
Magnificat
Arvo Pärt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomens eius.
Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenie timentibus eum.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Deposuit potentes de sede; et exeltavit humiles.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and the meek.
Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes.
He hath filled the hungry with goood things and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Suscepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel;
Sicit locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula.
Arvo Pärt's Magnificat is a stunningly beautiful musical composition based on the verses from the Bible's Gospel of Luke popularly known as the Magnificat or the Song of Mary. It is sung in Latin and is a hymn of praise and joy by Mary, the mother of Jesus, on hearing the news that she will bear God's son. Mary exalts the Lord and rejoices in the blessing bestowed upon her. She acknowledges her own lowliness and how the Lord has shown mercy and magnified her. Mary is overjoyed and believes that all generations will call her blessed.
The second half of the song is a celebration of God's might and mercy. God is mighty and holy, and his mercy is upon those who fear him. He has shown his strength by putting down the proud and exalting the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. The song ends with Mary acknowledging that God has upheld his promise to his people by helping Israel, his servant, just as he had promised to Abraham and his descendants.
The composition is notable for its simplicity and the use of silence as a powerful element in the music. Pärt uses a technique he calls tintinnabuli, in which he weaves simple, bell-like tones around a series of meditative chords. The result is a hauntingly beautiful, almost otherworldly sound that is both calming and inspiring.
Line by Line Meaning
Magnificat anima mea Dominum.
My soul glorifies the Lord and recognizes his greatness.
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
My spirit is full of joy and delight in God my Savior.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
He has shown kindness and grace to his humble servant, and as a result, all generations will consider me blessed.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomens eius.
He has done great things for me, who is all powerful, and his name is holy and divine.
Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenie timentibus eum.
His mercy extends from generation to generation to those who fear and reverence him.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
He has displayed his power and might with his arm, scattering those who are arrogant and proud in their thoughts.
Deposuit potentes de sede; et exeltavit humiles.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly and humble.
Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes.
He has filled the hungry with good things, while sending the rich away empty-handed.
Suscepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae.
He has taken care of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy and kindness.
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula.
Just as he promised to our ancestors, Abraham and his descendants forever.
Writer(s): Arvo Part
Contributed by Zachary P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Delmonaco1969
1 My soul doth magnify the Lord.
2 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
3 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid:
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
4 Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.
5 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
6 He hath shewed might in his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.
8 He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
10 As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
(Most musical settings of the Magnificat will append the minor doxology, Gloria Patri.)
@Delmonaco1969
Vulgate
1 Magnificat, anima mea, Dominum
2 et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo, salutari meo.
3 Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ:
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
4 Quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius,
5 et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
6 Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
7 Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles;
8 esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes.
9 Suscepit Israel puerum suum recordatus misericordiæ suæ,
10 sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in sæcula.
11 Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto:
12 Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
@NickOleksiakMusic
The best part of Pärt is every part.
@vincenzoveronesi7379
Congratulations for your excellent pun!! Really a marvellous composition and I, too, have to express my wholehearted thanks to Mr. Mondon for having posted this page.
@joecastle288
underrated comment
@gibsonbe1
I feel the same way. I love how you expressed it. I will be using this myself.
@sexualsalt6016
So true tho.
@AdamTru1
However, this is only one Pärt, even though it has every part.
@Tuuli222
Hypnotizing. Hauntingly, almost disturbingly beautiful. What a master piece.
@PetrusJosephus
This is stunning. I am only just discovering this great man's works.
@jaquandajackson7752
That non chord tone the complete choir hits and resolves is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.
@edwardmalenfant7547
time ?