Search - Part, Kaljuste, Estonian Phil Chamber Choir :: Beatus Petronius / Statuit Ei Dominus

Some of the arrangements, cutting out the organ, don't work

Christopher Culver | 05/06/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This disc of Arvo Part's choral works was released on Virgin Classics in 1997. Tonu Kaljuste leads the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. It includes 3 world premiere recordings, with some pieces hear in unaccompanied versions (without organ) for the first time.



There was quite a bit that I didn't like about this disc. "De Profundis" have already appeared on ECM. Generally the ECM recordings can be seen as definitive as the composer is involved in their production. "Solfeggio" is unusual in being a vocal work without any programmatic basis, unlike the overtly Christian music which is the hallmark of Part's writing, but it's not a terribly substantial piece. The "Magnificat Antiphones", seven German-language settings of praises of Christ, are the most diverse of the a capella works, but they don't draw me back.



Generally, I'm not a big fan of Part's pieces in the a capella vein, the only success being his massive Kanon Pokajanen of 1999 (but that goes between mere art music to a full-fledged setting for liturgical use.) What seriously weakens this disc, therefore, is that the wonderful "Missa syllabica" and solid "Cantate Domino", originally for organ and choir, is heard here without the vital organ parts. Just compare the dull performances here to that on a Harmonia Mundi disc with Theatre of Voices and Paul Hillier where the organ part is present.



Luckily, however, we have here one of Part's sketches for Kanon Pokajanen. The nine-minute "Memento" was ultimately integrated into Ode VII of Part's masterpiece. If you not sure if you should invest in the pricey ECM two-disc set of the Kanon Pokajanen--and if you are not a devout Orthodox believer there's no guarantee you'll like that liturgical work--then this is a good place to hear its soundworld for the first time.



Of the remaining works on the CD, two are for choir and not one, but two organs. "Statuit ei Dominus" and "Beatus Petronius" both date from 1990, when they were commissioned for the 600th anniversary of the Basilica San Petronio in Bologna. The former recalls the strong musical drama of "Misere" for choir and ensemble, while the latter is more contemplative. I enjoy them both greatly."