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Arvo Part and Fratres
The use of his compositional Tintinnabuli Style
Zach Payne
University of Mary Washington
Department of Music
Under the direction of Doctor Mark Snyder, and Kristen Presley
Arvo Pärt and Fratres, the use of his method Tintinnabuli
I am a senior violinist at the University of Mary Washington, and one of my
majors is a Bachelors in music with a focus on performance. I have been playing
violin for 12 years, and have been studying violin repertoire for 7 years. In this
lecture recital, I wish to present the violin concerto Fratres and the piece’s
composer Arvo Pärt.
Arvo Pärt’s music, specifically Fratres, is an example of modern 20th
century minimalist music. Pärt’s minimalist music is unique due to a compositional
technique he created called Tintinnabuli. My goal is to demonstrate how his music
used his style to create music sequences inspired by Gregorian chant and
sequential chord sets. In my performance of Fratres, my goal is to show how the
Tintinnabuli style is used to create sequential patterns and melodies that explore
the space Pärt creates with his style. While doing this I hope to illustrate the unique
voice of minimalism Fratres achieves.
Table of Contents
Page 1:
Cover Page
Page 2:
Abstract
Page 3:
Table of Contents
Page 4:
Thesis Statement
Page 5:
Introduction
Page 6:
Approach, Methods, Research & Discussion
Page 7:
Work plan/Time Table
Page 8:
References
Thesis
I wish to demonstrate the Tintinnabuli technique behind one of Pärt’s works,
specifically the concerto publication for violin and piano, Fratres. To do this I will
cover the composer himself, and the ideas and influences he used to create this
compositional technique. As well as perform the piece to demonstrate this
technique in practice and sound.
Introduction:
Since the minimalist movement began around the 1960s, the field has
become a staple in musical history, and a diverse field of study. As this field of
music continues to grow and vary, new composers create new techniques, systems,
or philosophies that apply to minimalist music and give later composers not only
inspirations, but compositional tools and rules that can be followed to emulate a
chosen style, or create something new.
Arvo Pärt, a 20th and 21st century composer, wrote and innovated in the field
of minimalist music during the early half of his career. Upon first listening, many
knowledgeable people in the subject matter might say that his music is reminiscent
of American minimalist music due to some shared notes with the style and the
seeming nature of the repetition, but Pärt cannot really be placed in this category.
This is because while he created his excellent examples of this style of music, Pärt
also created a unique compositional technique known as Tintinnabuli. This
compositional technique uses influences from Gregorian chant and medieval
heterophony, Stravinsky’s liturgical music, various pieces of Slavic minimalist
repertoire, as well as his own stylings inspired by his own beliefs on how a style
like Tintinnabuli should be perceived. This style can be useful as a tool for study,
and for application in the creation of minimalist music, and this lecture recital aims
to explain why.
References:
http://www.theartstory.org/movement-minimalism.htm
https://calvertjournal.com/news/show/5271/estonian-arvo-paert-listed-as-mostperformed-living-composer
http://www.arvopart.org/tintinnabulation.html