The Music of Arvo Pärt

For much of the 21st century, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (b.1935) has been among the most performed living composers - ranking either in first  or second place since 2011.  He studied music at the Tallinn Conservatory (now the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) in Estonia, where he was taught composition by Heino Eller, a highly influential Estonian composer.  In the 1960s, Pärt worked as a sound engineer at Estonian Radio in the 1960s, which exposed him to a wide range of contemporary and traditional music.

His musical style evolved dramatically over his career.  In the 1960s he experimented with serialism and modernism, producing works influenced by Schoenberg and Shostakovich.  After a period during which he immersed himself in Gregorian chant and medieval polyphony, he emerged with his signature minimalist style*, marking a shift from avant-garde complexity to spiritual simplicity.  His later works, such as Spiegel im Spiegel, embody a contemplative, sacred minimalism that has defined his reputation as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

*Tintinnabuli is Pärt's signature minimalist style.  The style is characterized by a "simple, transparent texture and a reduction of musical elements, often with a slow and meditative tempo."  It pairs melody with harmony to create a bell-like resonance.  Pärt was influenced by his mystical experiences and Orthodox faith, which led him to seek a more spiritual and simple form of musical expression.  For a look at more of Part's most famous works, see "9 Greatest Pieces of Music by Arvo Pärt" at the Australian Chamber Orchestra's website.

Sources: Wikipedia, Oxford Music Online, tunitemusic.com, Interlude.