Part Fratres
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Arvo Pärt
Genre:
Chamber
Label: Telarc
Magazine Review Date: 6/1995
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 79
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CD80387
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Fratres |
Arvo Pärt, Composer
(I) Fiamminghi Arvo Pärt, Composer |
| Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten |
Arvo Pärt, Composer
(I) Fiamminghi Arvo Pärt, Composer |
| Summa |
Arvo Pärt, Composer
(I) Fiamminghi Arvo Pärt, Composer |
| Festina lente |
Arvo Pärt, Composer
(I) Fiamminghi Arvo Pärt, Composer |
Author:
Telarc's Fratres-Fest proves beyond doubt that good basic material can be re-worked almost ad nauseam – if the manner of its arrangement is sufficiently colourful. The present sequence is particularly imaginative in that it alternates two varied pairs of Fratres with atmospheric original string pieces, then separates the last two versions with the sombre pealing of Festina Lente. The first Fratres opens to a low bass drone and chaste, ethereal strings: the suggested image is of a slow oncoming processional – mourners, perhaps, or members of some ancient religious sect – with drum and xylophone gradually intensifying until the percussive element is so loud that it resembles Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man. One envisages aged protagonists who have been treading the same ground since time immemorial, whereas the frantically propelled, arpeggiated opening to the version for violin, strings and percussion leaves a quite different impression. Still, even here the music does eventually calm and Peter Manning provides an expressive solo commentary. All six arrangements share a common 'approach-and-retreat' formula, with ideas that arrive from – and subsequently retreat to – some distant horizon.
Next comes the gentle cascading of Part's Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, with its weeping sequences and lone, tolling bell. The eight-cello Fratres uses eerie harmonics (as does the cello and piano version that ends the programme), whereas Fratres for wind octet and percussion is cold, baleful, notably Slavic-sounding and occasionally reminiscent of Stravinsky. The alternation of Summa (for strings) and the quartet version of Fratres works nicely, the former more animated than anything else on the disc; the latter, more intimate.
I suppose that for most collectors, the leading question will be: does an 80-minute sequence based on repetitions of the one quasi-minimalist piece actually work? I think that in this case it does, mainly because, as I've already suggested, Part's basic material is so eminently 'repeatable'. The performances are consistently sympathetic, and the recordings are excellent. R1 '9506023'
Next comes the gentle cascading of Part's Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, with its weeping sequences and lone, tolling bell. The eight-cello Fratres uses eerie harmonics (as does the cello and piano version that ends the programme), whereas Fratres for wind octet and percussion is cold, baleful, notably Slavic-sounding and occasionally reminiscent of Stravinsky. The alternation of Summa (for strings) and the quartet version of Fratres works nicely, the former more animated than anything else on the disc; the latter, more intimate.
I suppose that for most collectors, the leading question will be: does an 80-minute sequence based on repetitions of the one quasi-minimalist piece actually work? I think that in this case it does, mainly because, as I've already suggested, Part's basic material is so eminently 'repeatable'. The performances are consistently sympathetic, and the recordings are excellent. R1 '9506023'
Part Fratres
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.