The first sketches for the work date back to 1993. The composition itself was finished in quite a short time at the beginning of 1995. This piece is atypical of Pärt, for it includes many free elements in comparison to his strict tintinnabuli works. At the same time, its spare means make it a very challenging piece to perform.
Following a short introduction, which seems to musically express the question in the title (“May I…” in German), the freely composed melody seems to provide an answer, alternating between the solo part and orchestra instruments.
Arvo Pärt has said: “It is like the last sentence of a fairy tale: “And they lived happily ever after.” The story leaves a memory and you cannot tell if it all happened in a dream or reality. This story is comp…
The first sketches for the work date back to 1993. The composition itself was finished in quite a short time at the beginning of 1995. This piece is atypical of Pärt, for it includes many free elements in comparison to his strict tintinnabuli works. At the same time, its spare means make it a very challenging piece to perform.
Following a short introduction, which seems to musically express the question in the title (“May I…” in German), the freely composed melody seems to provide an answer, alternating between the solo part and orchestra instruments.
Arvo Pärt has said: “It is like the last sentence of a fairy tale: “And they lived happily ever after.” The story leaves a memory and you cannot tell if it all happened in a dream or reality. This story is composed as homage to a great master, and is dedicated to him.”
The work premiered on 8 August 1995 at the Saanen Church at the Gstaad Music Festival in Switzerland, performed by Edna Michell on violin, with Sir Yehudi Menuhin conducting the Camerata Lysy chamber orchestra. The revised version premiered in Austria on 3 July 1999, at the Styriarte Festival in Graz, performed by Gidon Kremer on violin and the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra conducted by Michael Fendre.
