Arvo Pärt - Tabula Rasa, I

Tabula rasa, concerto for 2 violins (or violin & viola), prepared piano & string orchestra (1977)

I. Ludus: Con moto
II. Silentium: Senza moto

Adele Anthony, violin
Gil Shaham, violin
Erik Risberg, prepared piano
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi

Arvo Pärt composed Tabula Rasa in 1977, shortly after emerging from his self-imposed period of intense study and reflection to demonstrate what would become his characteristic musical technique: the so-called tintinnabuli method. The work is thus a prime example of the technique and demonstrates how, even in its early stages, Pärt's new and innovative musical language was connected indelibly with his sense of musical process and form. One not only hears the tintinnabula system working itself out in this piece, but also gets a clear sense of the aesthetic and spiritual underpinnings of the method and its implications for large-scale musical structure.

The work calls for two violin soloists supported by an ensemble of orchestral strings and an obbligato prepared piano. These three textural layers -- soloists, prepared piano, and orchestra -- assume distinct roles within the musical process at the heart of the piece. Stated simply, the tintinnabuli method as practiced by Pärt in this and numerous other works combines simple, usually stepwise diatonic melodies with ever-present interactions of tones from the tonic, or home, chord. There is thus both a strong sense of harmonic stability as well as a continually shifting surface of consonances and dissonances: as the melodic lines develop, the individual notes alternately concord and clash with the "tintinnabulating" tonic chord tones. In Tabula Rasa, the interaction of the two kinds of lines, as dispersed among the three textural layers, serves not only to provide the moment-to-moment interest of the piece, but to delineate the shape that the piece eventually comes to assume.

Art by Maria Helena Vieira da Silva

[Julissjul]

Seeing this being performed live was one of the best experiences of my life. One of the soloist broke a string on her violin, run to the leader, tore a violin off the leaders hands, pushed her broken violin into leaders hands and run back to play the part. Plus the conductor tore his jacket while conducting.

[MoonchildMindaugas]

I'm from Estonia myself, and I'm listening for the first time. I'm having an experience, indeed.

[missmaryh]

I love the way he slows down, waits for us, never leaving us alone

[enigma]

This man's music changed my life...

[LambdaBuzz]

Finaly! Finaly a version with clear sound, without cracking, noise and other defects. Thank you. Thank you so much!

[viniciuspessoa]

Music of a certain time period reveals about it, Part´s music shows the modern soul and mind like nothing does: repetition, uncertainty, conflict, instability, crisis, numbness, emptiness, fear, depression. its like staring at the mirror

[vitoaviles]

This astonishing music transports me to a place where feelings rule. Dazzling, but calm... Wishes, expectations... Heart beating, mind awaking...

[MrVante]

This will never get old,
This will never bore me,
For this is life

[EndlessCycleOfPride]

This is what enlightenment sounds like!

[mrbilldoor]

What an amazing argument between the powerfully discordant and the crisply beautiful.

[viniciuspessoa]

the definition of a genius work, in my humble opinion - is a creation that breaks totally with the pattern and brings to existence something completely new, whatever the field. Its not the complexity but the innovation, this marvelous hability. Bach did his part, also Haydn and Beethoven. Im not comparing Part to the great masters but he deserves respect as a composer.

[jaroglodek]

Simply beautiful.... Thanks a lot Arvo!!

[betsy]

Matches mind's temperament, temper?, tempo perfectly. It's so soothing. This man/music understands like none else. Ending is like reaching for the apex and convergence.

[TheLudwig]

my first musical loves are Heavy Rock and Punk...
but this is magnificent.

Truly magnificent

thanks, peace

[missmaryh]

Beautiful beautiful stunning glorious. Like prayers

[sangilpae]

단순하면서도 흥미롭고 남다른 맬로디와 동의적인 지평선, 그러면서도 깊은 심연이있다.

[neptunians]

I am truly, deeply, madly in love with this and part II !

[McSpiffy]

Amazing, one of those pieces of music that I must hear live at a point or another ..

[rodrigolluch]

Afortunado de tocar con su esposa, que genial esta esté compositor.

[vincentstuart]

I love his music It goes back to Western music s basics The triad. modes beautiful