Full Description
One of the most frequently performed contemporary composers, Arvo Pärt has become a phenomenon whose unusual reach is felt well beyond the concert hall. This ground-breaking collection of essays investigates both the causes and the effects of this success. Beyond the rhetoric of 'holy minimalism' that has accompanied the composer's reception since the mid-1980s, each chapter takes a fresh approach toward understanding how Pärt's music has occupied social landscapes. The result is a dynamic conversation among filmgoers (who explore issues of empathy and resemblance), concertgoers (commerce and art), listeners (embodiment, healing and the role of technology), activists (legacies of resistance) and performers (performance practice). Collectively, these studies offer a bold and thoughtful engagement with Pärt as a major cultural figure and reflect on the unprecedented impact of his music.
Contents
1. Introduction Laura Dolp; 2. Empathy and tintinnabuli music in film Maria Cizmic; 3. Pärt and the sound of one hand clapping Robert Sholl; 4. Pärt and the experience of the neutral Sander van Maas; 5. Ethos and the industry of culture Laura Dolp; 6. An ethnography of spirituality Kythe Heller; 7. Politics and protest Michael Palmese; 8. Sonic embodiment C. J. May; 9. Performing Pärt Andrew Shenton.
