Performer: The Hilliard Ensemble
Composer: Arvo Part
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Ecm Records
Size: 196 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no
01. Arbos
02. An den Wassern zu Babel saßen wir und weinten
03. Pari Intervallo
04. De Profundis
05. Es sang vor langen Jahren
06. Summa
07. Arbos
08. Stabat Mater
The Arvo Part discography on ECM is gaining a permanent position on my shelves. Ever since purchasing Te Deum and Litany, the divine “minimalist” music from Part had me hooked. With the fifth installment in the ECM series, we are introduced to some more of the composer’s somber (and sometimes otherworldly) compositions. Arbos is three minutes long, but it’s a hypnotic demonstration of brass. I don’t understand why it’s played twice on this CD, maybe it’s because to prepare ourselves for Stabat Mater or something. Speaking of which, the 24-minute Stabat Mater only requires a soprano, a tenor, a countertenor, and a string trio. It’s a small ensemble, but the music is quite riveting from beginning to end. It’s one that Part fans will deeply admire. De Profundis and Summa deserve high recognition because of their simplistic beauty. The 6-minute organ solo entitled Pari Intervallo is not striking musically, but the sheer tranquil emotion forces you to forget that sort of thing. The other two compositions are titled in German: An den Wassern du Babel [and] Es sang vor langen Jahren. They’re stunning, no complaints there.