Kanon Pokajanen

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com's Best of 1998
It seems as though every year, mystic Estonian composer Arvo Pärt delivers a new, thoroughly riveting composition. This year, it was Kanon Pokajanen. From the canon of repentance of the Russian Orthodox Church, Part created an a cappella masterpiece, a minimalist work that builds itself gradually, yet completely, upon haunting voices, harmonies, and volume. On this disc, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir delivers a gripping performance, with gorgeous sound quality. It's more than 80 minutes long, but thoroughly rewarding. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording
Arvo Pärt's new work, Kanon Pokajanen is an unqualified masterpiece. Although he's previously written music with similar notions of harmonic rhythm and melodic economy, this work successfully incorporates and develops material that in this context easily could become unwieldy. The texts are taken from the canon of repentance of the Russian Orthodox Church, a subject that's occupied the composer for many years. These songs of transformation "invoke the border between day and night ...... read more

Kanon Pokajanen

Tracks:

Kanon pokajanen: Ode I
Kanon pokajanen: Ode III
Kanon pokajanen: Ode IV
Kanon pokajanen: Ode V
Kanon pokajanen: Ode VI

Tracks:

Kanon pokajanen: Kondakion
Kanon pokajanen: Ikos
Kanon pokajanen: Ode VII
Kanon pokajanen: Ode VIII
Kanon pokajanen: Ode IX
Kanon pokajanen: Prayer after the Canon

Amazon.com essential recording

Arvo Pärt's Kanon Pokajanen is an unqualified masterpiece. Although he's previously written music with similar notions of harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic economy, this work successfully incorporates and develops material that in this context easily could become unwieldy. The texts are taken from the canon of repentance of the Russian Orthodox Church, a subject that has occupied the composer for many years. These songs of transformation "invoke the border between day and night ... prophecy and fulfillment, the here and the hereafter." Supervised by the composer, this performance by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is pure gold, and likely will remain the definitive recording. Pärt's music rises from gentle valleys to impressive dramatic heights; from single voices to full choir. Here is 83 minutes of exquisite a cappella music in which time and space seem one, and rhythms find their place in a perfect synchrony with breathing and heartbeat. Whether any of this is conscious on the composer's part is incidental. Pärt is tuned into something that finds and touches us all. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

uniquely powerful.......2007-01-19

I have heard extracts from this cd and was so moved by them I flew to Tallinn, Estonia to hear it (same choir and conductor as this recording) perform in Niguliste church. It was amazing and in common with another younger reviewer I find it so powerful to hear again that although I will buy it (so that I have it) I think listening to it maybe a bit much for me.

The choir is stunning, the music breathtaking, this recording excellent, and Tallinn a lovely place to visit!

Music infused with orthodox (traditional) mysticism .......2006-06-18

This arguably is Part's greatest musical operation. Although this piece is referencing penitential and supplicatory worship, the Kanon evokes a sense of some cosmic apocalyptic event, unfolding in the firmament for all of humanity to witness.

Focus on the male voices at the beginning of this spectacular music and you will hear wonderful and unique coalescence of sounds that will take your breath away. Simultaneously, with the opening impact, comes the sorrowful and heartbreaking intentionality of the piece. The only other sacred composition that can surpass the supremacy of the Kanon is Allegri's Miserere...but not by much.

The Line of Masters of Liturgical Music Continues!.......2005-07-28

In this captivating piece, Estonian, Arvo Part, proves himself a worthy successor to such masters of liturgical music as Allegri, Palestrina, Tallis, Byrd, Mozart, Faure', Rachmaninov, Elgar, Williams and Rutter. I urge any lover of liturgical music to experience this marvelous masterwork.

Mysterious and Mesmerizing.......2005-06-02

It has been said that the human voice is the most beautiful of all instruments. In this 2-CD set, with the help of the 28-voice Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Arvo Part proves it to be once again true. Part sets the Russian Orthodox liturgical song cycle of the Slavonic, KANON POKAJANEN ('canon of repentance') to s-l-o-w, deep, majestically dark vocal harmonies followed by sumptuous elevations into the choral heavens. Mysterious and mesmerizing; cathartic and redemptive; Part brings us to the threshold of our spiritual decision to change our sinful ways, and to begin our journey toward paradise. The canon text is included in the liner notes and provides the contemplation from which Part took his inspiration, and from which we may also take ours.

Amazing........2004-04-19

After hearing Kanon Pokajanen in its entirety on college radio, I immediately ordered the CD. I mainly listen to more contemporary styles of music (rock, hip hop, electronica, etc.) Perhaps I wasn't really paying attention to my car radio, because when I put the disc in my CD player, I was blown away.

I am not religious, but listening to Ode IV is the closest I've ever been to being converted. This ode is my favorite. When listening to it for the first time, I cried. I hadn't cried in about 3 years. I cried for 5 minutes straight, through the latter half of the song. Then, I sat on my bed and stared at the ceiling for a half an hour without thinking of anything. I just kept hearing it. The climax hits you early on; everything beyond that is a come down. A beautiful, more relaxed, yet ever-intense come down.

I find that listening to this album in the background has little effect. Turn it up as loud as you feel comfortable with. I can't really listen to this anymore. I've been happier lately and it's just too much. After hearing 1 second of Ode I, I quickly pressed stop and shuddered, recalling just how intense it really is.

While each ode may seem like the last, you will start to notice differences in each. Besides, I would still give this CD five stars if it were 10 tracks of the same song. Or even just one track.

This is the one artist I will not recommend to my friends. I am 17, and I feel they will not understand. I do not want their reactions to taint it.

Tracks:

Bogoroditse Djevo
I Am The True Vine
Ode IX, from Kanon pokajanen
Woman With the Alabaster Box, The
Tribute To Caesar
BERLINER MESSE with Christopher Bowers-Broadbent organ/Kyrie
BERLINER MESSE/Gloria
BERLINER MESSE/Erster Alleluiavers
BERLINER MESSE/Zweiter Alleluiavers
BERLINER MESSE/Veni Sancte Spiritus
BERLINER MESSE/Credo
BERLINER MESSE/Sanctus
BERLINER MESSE/Angus dei

Amazon.com

Contemporary troubador Paul Hillier has been one of the key players behind introducing Arvo Pärt's music to Western audiences, first through recordings with the Hilliard Ensemble and later through his magnificently innovative group Theatre of Voices. I Am the True Vine continues the collaboration by bringing together some truly vintage Pärt compositions from the '90s. Although it exists on disc in a more elaborate version for choir and strings, the 1990 Berlin Mass was originally written for just four solo voices and organ. Pärt later revised the score, returning to that original sonority, which is the version offered here. The consummate preparation of the Theatre of Voices, in which every line is lovingly unfurled, the whole building into a memorable aural sculpture, only heightens a listener's admiration for Pärt's ability to make the seemingly simple profound. We also hear the composer in a more overtly joyful mood than usual in the short first selection, while the title track--a setting of a text from the Gospel of John and one of three world premiere recordings here--is a marvelously organic example of word painting (representing Pärt's choral virtuosity even when it comes to setting English text). --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Heavenly lullaby.......2006-08-20

This is the CD on my bedroom CD player that I listen to to "center" myself before going to sleep. It's actually a little intense for lullaby music, stimulating in a profoundly relaxing way.This is the first CD I would take to my desert island.

If you're looking for minimalism..........2003-04-03

I must have been under the false impression that ALL of Arvo Part's work since 1976 (around the time Fur Alina was written) was in the minimalist vein. Well, this recording is certainly not minimalist in any way, shape, or form.

If you are looking for this type of recording, I would recommend you try Part's instrumental works (apart from those written before '76).

This disc sounds more like neo-rennaisance madrigals and motets. If you are looking for a modern composer doing this type of work, look no further. However, if you are expecting another Fur Alina you will be greatly disappointed.

Impecable recording quality...a recording artists dream........2001-01-06

The best choral recording on the market period. So great in fact that I use this CD to test mid-range imagining on high end speakers. The tones are so pure....that you'll agree this is the CD you spent over 600. a speaker for, bar none.

Brilliant performance, good sound.......2000-09-14

The CD "I am the true vine" with works by Arvo Part is my first more thorough encounter with this composer. The sound of his music - even in the more modern parts - is always very pleasing and somewhat "easy" to listen to. In how far, however, is Part's music conveying more than just the full, well set choral sound? In my opinion, Arvo Part delivers a general feeling about the text, but it takes some time to get acquainted to the unusual style where voices join and drop out of the setting during single words, and in some cases, the emphases in the rhythm of the music do not fit the pronounciation needed in the text (that's why there are only 4 stars).

The CD presents various works, from the "Berliner Messe" - a rather advanced arrangement - via some biblical themes in English to nearly folk-style slavic tunes. This variety makes this CD probably a good start for people like me who want to know more about Part's work. The recording is nearly flawless, and the ensembles directed by Paul Hillier do a very good job.

They can sing this in Heaven.......2000-08-24

This disc is my first introduction to Arvo Part, and I was awestruck. This mystical work sounds like chant but informed by a millenium of musical advancement. I won't venture an opinion for people who aren't Christian (though I daresay they'd appreciate the music), but personally the communion of saints can sing this in Heaven. The title track alone brought me to tears. The singers are excellent and courageous and the encoding quality of the disc seems flawless. Incidentally, it's amazing Part could make such a startling and moving modern Mass setting and still make it singable for everyday liturgical use.

Average customer rating:

A Serious Masterpiece
Zounds
An amazing piece of Work
Beautiful liturgical music
Heavenly Harmonies!

Kanon Pokajanen

Manufacturer: Ecm Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Litany
Arvo Pärt: De Profundis
Arvo Part: Te Deum / Kaljuste, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Arvo Pärt: Te Deum / Silouans Song / Magnificat / Berliner Messe
Arvo Pärt: Passio

ASIN: B000009QQT
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

Kanon pokajanen: Ode I
Kanon pokajanen: Ode III
Kanon pokajanen: Ode IV
Kanon pokajanen: Ode V
Kanon pokajanen: Ode VI

Tracks:

Kanon pokajanen: Kondakion
Kanon pokajanen: Ikos
Kanon pokajanen: Ode VII
Kanon pokajanen: Ode VIII
Kanon pokajanen: Ode IX
Kanon pokajanen: Prayer after the Canon

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

It seems as though every year, mystic Estonian composer Arvo Pärt delivers a new, thoroughly riveting composition. This year, it was Kanon Pokajanen. From the canon of repentance of the Russian Orthodox Church, Part created an a cappella masterpiece, a minimalist work that builds itself gradually, yet completely, upon haunting voices, harmonies, and volume. On this disc, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir delivers a gripping performance, with gorgeous sound quality. It's more than 80 minutes long, but thoroughly rewarding. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording

Arvo Pärt's new work, Kanon Pokajanen is an unqualified masterpiece. Although he's previously written music with similar notions of harmonic rhythm and melodic economy, this work successfully incorporates and develops material that in this context easily could become unwieldy. The texts are taken from the canon of repentance of the Russian Orthodox Church, a subject that's occupied the composer for many years. These songs of transformation "invoke the border between day and night ... prophecy and fulfillment, the here and the hereafter." Supervised by the composer, this performance by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is pure gold, and likely will remain the definitive recording. Part's music rises from gentle valleys to impressive dramatic heights; from single voices to full choir. Here is 83 minutes of exquisite a cappella music in which time and space seem one, and rhythms find their place in a perfect synchrony with breathing and heartbeat. Whether any of this is conscious on the composer's part is incidental. Pärt is tuned into something that finds us and touches us all. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

A Serious Masterpiece.......2002-10-30

Unlike plainsong, which can provide meditative background music for work, prayer or reading, I believe Part's work demands -- and richly rewards -- full attention and involvement. By turns somber and sublime, the music evokes the mystical experience of the Russian Orthodox Church, and for me, cannot be separated from the religious experience of the liturgy it embodies.

Zounds.......1999-11-03

Zounds, oddsbods and gadzooks. Must be felt to be believed. Buy all means,by it. True repentance is that I only had one set of ears to listen with.

An amazing piece of Work.......1999-08-05

I think Arvo Pärt has done amazingly well. To say it is not original is not true, Estonians are just learning to show their originality, he has already succeeded in doing this. Music is music, and he has written a true piece of art. Soviets occupied Estonia for 40 years, he's just showing their influence in his work. Their culture is beautiful too, maybe he's been touched by it.

Beautiful liturgical music.......1999-07-09

I would describe this as a "neo-medieval" work. It is an absolutely ravishing 80-min long a cappella Eastern Orthodox liturgical work. I think it has to be among Part's best work. The performance is superb. So is the recording. A must buy.

Heavenly Harmonies!.......1999-01-25

The Kanon Pokajanen is another masterpiece of 20th Century choral music by Arvo Part of Estonia. It is best listened to privately, in a home setting. In a car, one cannot hear the nuances nor the many piannissimos throughout the performance. An excellent addition to anyone's choral music collection. Highly recommended!

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