Spiegel im Spiegel

Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is almost exclusively associated with his later works. Born in 1935, his early music was very much ‘avant-garde’ in style. In the 1970s, he increasingly found his inspiration in medieval religious music, both western and eastern European. This first transpired in his Für Alina for piano. It features the telling low tempo and two layer structure which were to become trademarks of his later works.

This album, titled after one of Arvo Prts most beloved works, is a meditative tribute marking the composers 90th birthday on September 11, 2025. On Spiegel im Spiegel, music becomes a mirror: between composers, across centuries, and within the listener. At its heart are three works by PrtFratres, Da pacem, and Spiegel im Spiegeleach embodying his signature language of stillness and spiritual clarity. They are framed by pieces that resonate with his sensibility: Olivier Messiaens contemplative Louanges, J.S. Bachs luminous Sonata for Viola da Gamba, and Alfred Schnittkes brooding Cello Sonata. Performed by Onut Grainyt (piano) and Edward King (cello), with the Aidija Chamber Choir led by Romualdas Grainis, this collection invites deep listening. From Bachs elegant counterpoint to Messiaens timeless devotion, each work reflects a shared search for the eternal. A sonic meditation on peace, prayer, and presencethis is music that mirrors the soul. Recorded at Studio Residence Paliesius, May 2025.