"Perhaps these aren't the great defining recordings of Part's works. They're certainly good enough. This CD served as my introduction to minimalist music - it was a lot easier to take a chance on a $5 Naxos CD than the $18 ECM recordings of Part's music that I love so very much.Part is frequently dismissed by certain factions in the classical music community as "New Age Tripe". It is true that his music embodies some of the quiet and contemplative as well as non-traditional elements of some new age compositions, but Part's music is also imbued with an utter dedication to spirituality that is clearly evident in "Cantus in Memory of Bejamin Britten", the last track on the CD. Part has also been called a "Holy Minimalist", a composer whose music is deeply connected to his religious faith. Even one not familiar with the composer or his history will use words like "simple", "meditative", "reverent" and "serene" to describe his works.Part's music is beguilingly simple. There are deliberate silences that are simply a joy to listen to. Complexity is simply not present in this music - each piece is stripped to the essence of it's musicality.It's an inspiring thing to hear.For listeners already familiar with Part's music, this disc offers welcome new interpretations of some of his more recorded works at a price that I, at least, would find difficult to pass up.I cannot really find fault with this disc. For a new listener, there is a wonderful sampling of listenable music from a still-living classical composer. For those who have enjoyed other music by Part, this is perhaps one of the best "bargain" CDs I have ever found."
Excellent introduction to part at a bargain price
vic spicer | 12/27/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"this is a wonderul little CD- you would think that 6 variations of the same piece would get tedious, but each has a character of it's own. breaking them up are the jaunty "summa for strings" and heatbreaking cantus for benjamin britten. this compares well with the ECM recordings from the mid 80's, and is a bargain at the price."
Moving, emotional
almosthappy | San Diego, CA, California | 06/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Arvo Part's brilliance is marked by his departure from the sugary and over-polished neo-romanticist norm. Part's music is always sincere and never compromising. Listening to Fratres (Brothers) is like an excursion into Part's deeply emotional and heavily religious musical world, where everything is represented by a primal, serialized "tintinnabular" musical form. I'm surprised that this CD costs so little. Any fans of the 20th century music should add this disc to their collection."
More fun than...ummm...some other CDs!
Dr. Fartmeister | Vancouver BC | 11/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Part's music defies classification. We can call him Minimalist, yet much of his material expands beyond that genre--almost to the point of neo-romanticism, but not really. At first hearing, Part, is inoffensive and strangely luring. Soon the listener is sitting in front of the speaker asking for more and more an more...like an addictive and degrading drug.Well, not really much like an addictive and degrading drug at all...more like extremely likable music. While not overwhelmingly profound, Part is never shallow, either. "Fratres" is actually several different pieces written from roughly the same material, and arranged for several different types of ensembles. I have been particularly enraptured by the setting for cello and piano, which displays some rather virtuosic playing. The performances on this disc are all outstanding--it is odd how such obscure orchestras like the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra are snubbed for bigger but by no means better names."
Astonishing Music
L. Winkler | Regina Canada | 10/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard Part on my car radio and actually parked my car to hear the entire piece. It was Fratres for strings and percussion, found on this CD. I had never heard such wonderful music before and as a Catholic I find myself strongly attracted to the sprituality that embues every note. This is a bargain CD with terrific performances, all very different, that will leave you in tears at the beauty. I don't know what is is about Part; he's a minimalist that touches something very profound with his music and this CD does justice to that. Buy it!"