Pärt, Arvo (1935– )

Estonian composer. He is associated with minimalism and sacred music and is best known for his choral and orchestral works. His Nekrolog (1960) for orchestra was dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust.

He graduated from the Tallinn Conservatory in 1963 and settled in West Berlin in 1982. He received the 2008 Sonning Prize, Denmarkseverals highest award for music.

Works Choral with orchestra oratorio Stride of the World (1960); St John Passion (1981).

Orchestral three symphonies (1964, 1966, 1971); Pro et Contra for cello and orchestra (1964); cello concerto (1981); concerto for violin, cello, and chamber orchestra (performed in London, 1981).

Ensemble Cantus in Memory of Britten for strings and glockenspiel (1977); Arbos for seven instruments (1977); Wenn Bach Bienen gezüchtet hätte/If Bach had been a bee-keeper two versions for harpsichord and ensemble (1978, 1980).

Church music Te Deum (1985), Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988), Magnificat (1989), Miserere (1989), Beatus Petronius for two choruses and two organs (1990), The Beatitudes for chorus and organ (1990), Berlin Mass (1991).