Music archive entry

The piece is written in very long bars, each of which contains a complete phrase similar to phrases in plainchant. The performers need to adapt to the unusual pharsing.

Summa was originally written by Arvo Part in 1978 for four solo voices. The composer re-scored it for string quartet in 1980 which is the version being performed this evening. The original version was a setting of the Latin text of the "Credo". The music does not attempt directly to reflect the words; the musical and textual meters rarely coincide but a simple and hypnotic rhythm is sustained. The upper and lower voices are paired against each other in subtle and perpetually overlapping phrasing, giving rise to an intensely expressive yet undemonstrative mood. The weaving together of the melodic lines which flow with stepwise and arpeggiated figures, creates harmonies which are sometimes modal with bell-like dissonances.

Arvo Part was born in Estonia in 1935 and emigrated to Western Europe in 1980. Since 1976 his musical style has been inspired by his discovery of the Eastern Orthodox Church; its spirituality and music led him to study the methods of mediaeval and Renaissance composers.