Abstract / DOI
In Harmony with God: How the Composer Arvo Pärt Sets his Faith to Music. Arvo Pärt is the most performed living composer in the world. Characteristics of his music are his distinctive compositional style called «Tintinnabuli» and the omnipresence of his Christian Orthodox faith and profound spirituality. Based on an analysis of Pärt’s compositions and a review on his comments on his music and biography, this article investigates the dimension of religion and spirituality in Pärt’s music. Among other aspects, it highlights the meaning of silence and of liturgical, biblical and spiritual words for his music, which appears as a language of prayer. With respect to the great success of Pärt’s music in secular context, impulses of his music for contemporary theology are considered.