Arvo Part: Tabula Rasa

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1984, the essential record of Tabula Rasa was released on ECM records. The recording features not only the title composition performed by the Lithuanian hamber Orchestra featuring Gidon Kramer on Violin (for whom Pärt wrote the exquisitely contemplative and hypnotic title work) and Alfred Schnittke on prepared piano, but the equally beautiful composition "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" and two versions of "Fratres"; a star performance from Keith Jarrett, and Gideon Kremer and its most sublime version for 12 cellos performed by the 12 Cellist of The Berlin Philharmonic. The compositions are spare, but the space between the sounds are as full of music as the notes themselves. The title cut the allows an inner fullness to resonate through the most fragile, ethereal wisps of tone against the mysterious clanging of prepared piano. The lament of the tubular bells in "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" is emotionally haunting and seems to descend from the heavens above. "Fratres" is a simple tune. On one hand it sounds like something from the 15th century, yet it clearly is something from the present day.

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Tracks:

1. Fratres, for violin & piano
Composé par Arvo Part
avec Gidon Kremer, Keith Jarrett

2. Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, for string orchestra & bell
Composé par Arvo Part
Joué par Stuttgart State Orchestra
Dirigé par Dennis Russell Davies

3. Fratres, for 4, 8 or 12 cellos
Composé par Arvo Part
avec Twelve Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic

4. Tabula rasa, concerto for 2 violins (or violin & viola), prepared piano & string orchestra
Composé par Arvo Part
Joué par Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra
avec Tatjana Grindenko, Alfred Schnittke, Gidon Kremer
Dirigé par Saulius Sondeckis


Gidon Kremer violin
Keith Jarrett piano
Tatjana Grindenko violin
Alfred Schnittke prepared piano

Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra
Saulius Sondeckis conductor

Staatsorchester Stuttgart
Dennis Russell Davies conductor
The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic