Arvo Pärt

Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem

It takes 75 minutes to relate the story of the Passion according to the Latin of St John's Gospel; Pärt uses solo singers for the roles of Pilate and Christ, and a group of four soloists (soprano, counter tenor, tenor and bass) for the Evangelist, together with a small chorus. Understatement is all: the instrumental accompaniment is confined to a quartet of woodwind and strings that underpins the Evangelist quartet, and an organ to support the remaining singers. Each distinct group has its own scraps of melodic material, which are constantly varied and repeated. Everything proceeds in rhythmic unison, so that the effect js ritualistic and highly austere. (Andrew Clements, Financial Times, 12.6.1986)