Vater unser

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…

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 the piece for boy soprano or countertenor and string orchestra or string quintet, which premiered on 3 October 2013 in Wollongong, Australia, performed by the countertenor Andreas Scholl and the string quintet of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.