On 10 September, the head of ECM Records, music producer Manfred Eicher presented a brand new collection of Arvo P\u00e4rt\u2019s works, \u2018Musica Selecta\u2019 with a selection of his favorites from previous recordings, issued to celebrate the composer\u2019s birthday.\u00a0 The presentation took place at the Noblessner foundry in Tallinn during the Nargenfestival, where a discussion took place between Manfred Eicher and musicologist Toomas Siitan.<\/p>\n
The album brings together a selection of the results from a long-time collaboration between Eicher and Arvo P\u00e4rt, that has continued since the very first album from 1984, \u201cTabula rasa\u201d. Together with the CDs comes a comprehensive booklet with photos and personal texts compiled by Manfred Eicher himself. The symbolic opening piece \u201cFrom long ago thus singing\u2026\u201d (\u201cEs sang vor langen Jahren\u2026\u201d referring to the passing of more than thirty five years from the time when Eicher first heard the music of Arvo P\u00e4rt.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew music needs its own space in which to sound, to breathe, to flower. That has been one of our considerations throughout our close, long-running collaboration as well as the detailed attention to the needs of Arvo P\u00e4rt\u2019s meticulously placed sounds and silences, and the particular care in the choice of musicians. \/\u2013\/ The music on this album is a personal selection of Arvo\u2019s works, heard and experienced in a sequence. Each episode offers an insight into our shared journey. Together they evoke new associations, as the journey goes on.\u201d (from Manfred Eicher\u2019s text in the CD booklet)<\/p>\n
After its release, many positive reviews in international media have been published. A selection:
\nhttp:\/\/www.ecmrecords.com\/news\/reviews-of-the-week17\/
\nhttp:\/\/www.morgenpost.de\/kultur\/article205660791\/Der-einsame-Heilige-der-Neuen-Musik.html
\nhttp:\/\/www.abendblatt.de\/kultur-live\/article205660577\/Musik-aus-der-Stille.html<\/p>\n
You can order the double CD from the Arvo P\u00e4rt Centre via info (at) arvopart.ee. The price is 20 eur.<\/p>\n
Tracklist:<\/p>\n
Es Sang Vor Langen Jahren
\nF\u00fcr Alina
\nMein Weg
\nKanon Pokajanen \u2013 Ode VI
\nSilouans Song
\nFratres
\nAlleluia-Tropus
\nTrisagion
\nBeatus Petronius
\nWallfahrtslied \/ Pilgrim\u2019s Song
\nMost Holy Mother Of God
\nCantus In Memory Of Benjamin Britten
\nMagnificat
\nFestina Lente
\nLamentate
\nStabat Mater
\nDa Pacem Domine<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n