Arvo Pärt and French
Ligita Sneibe (organ)
Programme: A. Pärt, E. Gigout, J. Alain, O. Messiaen, T. Dubois, J. Demessieux
This concert programme alternates between Arvo Pärt’s stripped-down, meditative sound world and the colourful, often virtuosic expression of French organ music. Pärt’s music moves in quiet circles, where every tone carries inner significance, while the French tradition offers rich harmonies, dramatic gestures, and technical brilliance. Together, these contrasts form a musical journey between contemplation and exultation.
The programme includes Arvo Pärt’s most prominent organ works (Annum per annum, Trivium, Pari intervallo) and intimate meditations (Mein Weg hat Gipfel und Wellentäler, Spiegel im Spiegel), with the composer reflecting on faith, life’s path and eternity. This contemplation is complemented by French organ music jewels of the 20th century – Jeanne Demessieux’s pious reflection In manus tuas on the theme of Gregorian chants, Théodore Dubois’ In Paradisum, rooted in the French romanticism tradition, Eugene Gigout’s virtuous Toccata, Jehan Alain’s divine musical inheritance Littanies and Olivier Messiaen’s Dieu parmi nous, which with a gleaming light tells on the coming of God among people.
