Arvo Pyart is a world-famous composer. He was the first to offer a new vision of music, and also turned to the technique of minimalism. He is often referred to as the "writing monk". Arvo's compositions are not devoid of a deep, philosophical meaning, but at the same time they are rather restrained.
Childhood and youth Arvo Pyart
Little is known about the singer's childhood and youth. He was born on September 11, 1935 in the small Estonian town of Paide. The boy was interested in musical art from an early age. As a schoolboy, he wrote his first works.
As a teenager, Arvo Pyart created his first masterpiece. We are talking about the cantata "Our Garden". The guy wrote a composition for a children's choir and orchestra. Later, Pärt studied at the Tallinn Music College. After studying in high school, he became a student at the conservatory in the composition class. Arvo was taught by the distinguished musician Heino Eller.
Creative way
Arvo has never been afraid to experiment with sound. Therefore, he combined the classics with a modern sound. In the composer's work, one can hear symphonies, cantatas and psalms.
The compositions of the artist have the spirit of asceticism. The composer wrote works that consist exclusively of major or only minor sounds. This is a kind of "trick" of the Estonian creator.
From 1957 to 1967 Arvo worked as a sound engineer for a local radio station. In addition, the composer quite often wrote soundtracks for popular films and TV shows. Arvo's works aroused genuine interest among music critics.
Not everyone was delighted with the work of the maestro. Some saw in minor compositions a high level of skill and professionalism. Others said that the works are very superficial in their sound.
In the creative biography of the composer, there are also scandals that are caused by a misunderstanding of his work by society. Public outcry in the cultural environment was caused by the "Obituary for the Orchestra". Tikhon Khrennikov accused Arvo of being subject to foreign influences. But the presented creation took an honorable 1st place in the competition of the All-Union Society of Composers. 1 applicants fought for the 1200st place.
New experiments with sound
In the mid-1960s, the composer began to experiment with sound. So, in his works, the technique of collage is clearly audible. The presented technique is based on a combination of avant-garde music techniques and quotations from European classics.
But the beginning of the 1970s in the composer's work is marked by the study of medieval musical techniques. At this time, an individual style of the creator was created, which later received the name "bells".
During his work, the composer could re-record his old works several times. Arvo was no stranger to working on his own shortcomings. The organ became the artist's favorite instrument.
The work of the Estonian was discussed at the musical level of social problems. In his repertoire there is a composition that he dedicated to Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in 2006. As well as a 2008 symphony addressed to Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Arvo Pyart's personal life
As it turned out, the composer is monogamous. His personal life has developed very successfully. Arvo's wife's name is Nore Pärt. The couple had two children.
In the early 1980s, the family moved to Vienna on an Israeli wife's visa. A few years later, Arvo and his wife moved to West Berlin. And in 2010 the composer returned to Estonia again.
Arvo Pyart today
In 2020, the compositions of the Estonian celebrity continue to sound in concert halls of different countries. Fans especially note the composer's works of the 1970s. The maestro's concerts are held not only in the former countries of the USSR, but also abroad. There are many awards on Pärt's shelf, photos from the award ceremonies are available on the Internet.
In addition, in 2020, Arvo Pärto turned 85 years old. Those who want to get to know this cult personality better should definitely watch a series of documentaries about his work:
- Arvo Pärt - And Then Came the Evening and the Morning (1990)
- Arvo Pärt: 24 Preludes for a Fugue (2002);
- Proovime Pärti (2012);
- Mängime Pärti (2013);
- Arvo Pärt - Isegikui ma kõikkaotan (2015).
