Neeme Järvi - Arvo Pärt: Collage (1994)

For all of those who look for early works of Pärt this is a precious recording. I believe there are a lot of people who don't find much appeal in Pärt's late repetitive, mystic works for the very same reasons others prefer them. So what's up here is that Pärt has a few lesser known works before, say, his third symphony which are the "opposite" of the mentioned above. Those who are found of Schnittke will surely appreciate this. The most remarkable composition in this record is maybe the "Credo" for piano mixed choir and orchestra. It consists of 13 minutes of duel between the forces of the past (represented by Bach's well known motifs) and the eruptive resources of modernist aleatoric clusters of sound. So, pools of beautiful passages are interrupted by (or combined with) destructive (or desconstructive) interventions of the orchestra till the whole, peaking sometimes the frenetic, becomes yet a powerful block of distinctive sound.

In spite of this chaotic character the music is full of imaginative textures never becoming static and confusing. What's impressive is that this work is from 1968! The 2nd symphony, even earlier, although not so exuberant also offers similar processes, sometimes with strong percussion, and includes an unexpected romantic melodic passage by the end which, no matter how much ironic it may be intended, moves the listener by moments to another atmosphere. (The 1st symphony may be found on "Searching for roots" compilation by Virgin with works of Tüur and Tubin). "Collage sur B-A-C-H" is better known and so are the remaining works which are more recent. It must be said that the commented works here, exploring most of the times the technique of "appropriation", may belong to Pärt's youth searching period and maybe discussable as not as relevant as his mystic late works - but they are surely very refreshing for all who enjoy the fruitful style of 60's modernism and want to know the other face of Pärt.