Lassus and Pärt

Orlandus Lassus (1532-1594) and Arvo Pärt (*1935)
Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me […] miserere (Primus Psalmus Poenitentialis)
Kanon Pokajanen: Ode I
Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me […] quoniam (Tertius Psalmus Poenitentialis)
Kanon Pokajanen: Ode VI
Kanon Pokajanen: Kontakion
Kanon Pokajanen: Ikos
Beati, quorum remissae sunt iniquitates (Secundus Psalmus Poenitentialis)
Kanon Pokajanen: Prayer after the canon

Cappella Amsterdam
Daniel Reuss conductor

Arvo Pärt, an Estonian composer born in 1935 and now in his nineties, shares with Orlandus Lassus a deep mystical experience and a love for complex polyphonic compositions. Pärt’s work is often heard in the soundtracks of films by directors such as Nanni Moretti and Terrence Malick. In the late 1990s, Pärt was commissioned by the German Church to compose a monumental work for the 750th anniversary of the Cologne Cathedral. In the late 1990s, Pärt was asked by the German Church to compose a monumental work to mark the 750th anniversary of Cologne Cathedral. From this commission came the Kanon Pokajanen, which premiered on March 17, 1998.

From this work, Daniel Reuss selects five pieces to place in dialogue with three penitential psalms by Orlandus Lassus. Orlandus Lassus, also known as Orlando di Lasso, was one of the most prominent composers of the late Renaissance. His music represents the highest development of the polyphonic style of that time.

The coming together of Lassus’ rich polyphony and Pärt’s contemplative minimalism in one program offers a fascinating contrast between two different periods in music history, while also highlighting the timeless themes of penance, repentance, and forgiveness.