Acceptance speech by Arvo Pärt, winner of the 2020 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Music and Opera, honored for creating an original musical language that has renewed contemporary and spiritual music. His tintinnabuli compositional technique, based on reducing musical elements to their essentials, has produced a deeply expressive body of work, particularly recognized for its choral compositions and close connection with religious tradition.
Pärt recalls the decisive influence of Spanish culture on his musical career, beginning with the inspiration he found in the music of Tomás Luis de Victoria and the paintings of El Greco during an eight-year creative crisis. He revisits compositions connected to Spain, including Como cierva sedienta, Virgencita and Da pacem Domine, written in response to the 2004 Madrid terrorist attacks, and highlights his friendship and collaboration with Jordi S
Acceptance speech by Arvo Pärt, winner of the 2020 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Music and Opera, honored for creating an original musical language that has renewed contemporary and spiritual music. His tintinnabuli compositional technique, based on reducing musical elements to their essentials, has produced a deeply expressive body of work, particularly recognized for its choral compositions and close connection with religious tradition.
Pärt recalls the decisive influence of Spanish culture on his musical career, beginning with the inspiration he found in the music of Tomás Luis de Victoria and the paintings of El Greco during an eight-year creative crisis. He revisits compositions connected to Spain, including Como cierva sedienta, Virgencita and Da pacem Domine, written in response to the 2004 Madrid terrorist attacks, and highlights his friendship and collaboration with Jordi Savall. He also mentions the design of the Arvo Pärt Centre by Spanish architects Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano, describing the award as the culmination of an artistic journey that began in the 1960s.
