Scored for
Duration
3 min
Short description
Vater unser is based on the The Lord’s Prayer in German and is written in 2005 for a boy soprano or countertenor with piano accompaniment. It was first performed in Austria in 2005. Later, Pärt dedicated the piece to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and in July 2011, Heldur Harry Põlda and Arvo Pärt performed it for the Pope in the Vatican to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
The piece is different from Pärt’s usual work in both its sound and its structure, having been created as a spontaneous song that was independent of the predetermined system. The simple, curving melody line and the harmony of the piano part highlight the idea in the text of “forgive us our sins ... as we forgive ...”.
In 2013 Pärt arranged t…
World premiere
Concert: Begegnungen
Johannes Forster (boy-soprano), Arvo Pärt (piano)
Completion year
Revision year
Dedication
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Vocal text
Vater unser im Himmel,
geheiligt werde Dein Name.
Dein Reich komme.
Dein Wille geschehe,
wie im Himmel so auf Erden.
Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute.
Und vergib uns unsere Schuld,
wie auch wir vergeben unseren Schuldigern.
Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung,
sondern erlöse uns von dem Bösen.
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.