Lamentate

Lamentate
Avro Pärt
(ASIN: B000A69QCW)

Recently named “Europe’s greatest living composer” by Entertainment Weekly and “one of the world’s most honored composers” by National Public Radio’s music critic Tom Manoff, Estonian musician Arvo Pärt has created an outstanding two-part CD titled Lamentate.

The opening chorus “Da Pacem Domine” is a clear and moving a capella set of choral harmonies that is beautifully rendered by the Hilliard Ensemble. A hauntingly meditative plea for peace, the choral work is carried by a stream of voices modeled on Gregorian chant. Dispensing with the type of vocal pyrotechnics found in choral works by other artists, this piece is simple to the point of being minimalist, yet steeped in sacred archaic tones.

This is followed by “Lamentate,” which was composed for orchestra and piano. Set to quiet drums and horns at the beginning, the piece quickly evolves into explosive sound so darkly wrathful and turbulent that Old Norse epics come to mind. These are interspersed, at times, with the lyrical effect of solo pianist Aleksei Lubimov and supported by strings. My one complaint about this CD is that at 42 minutes in length, it is too short. This is but nitpicking, however, for this album is brilliant. Rest assured, Lamentate will leave Arvo Pärt fans, both old and new, deeply satisfied.

— T. Mercadal-Sabbagh