Arvo Pärt quotes

Arvo Pärt is an Estonian composer recognized for his unique minimalist style and spiritual choral music. His signature "tintinnabuli" technique has influenced contemporary classical music worldwide. He continues to inspire audiences with his meditative compositions and profound sense of silence. Here are 8 of his quotes:

Tintinnabulation is an area I sometimes wander into when I am searching for answers--in my life, my music, my work. In my dark hours, I have the certain feeling that everything outside this one thing has no meaning. (Arvo Pärt)
A need to concentrate on each sound, so that every blade of grass would be as important as a flower. View quote
Arvo Pärt
Silence is the pause in me when I am near to God. View quote
Arvo Pärt
I could compare my music to white light which contains all colours. Only a prism can divide the colours and make them appear; this prism could be the spirit of the listener. View quote
Arvo Pärt
The human voice is the most perfect instrument of all. View quote
Arvo Pärt
The most sensitive musical instrument is the human soul. The next is the human voice. One must purify the soul until it begins to sound. A composer is a musical instrument and at the same time, a performer on that instrument. The instrument has to be in order to produce sound. One must start with that, not with the music. Through the music the composer can check whether his instrument is tuned and to what key it is tuned. View quote
Arvo Pärt
I have discovered that it is enough when a single note is beautifully played. View quote
Arvo Pärt
Pärt's cryptic remarks on his compositions orbit around the words 'silent' and 'beautiful'--minimal, by now almost imperiled associative notions, but ones which reverberate his musical creations. View quote
Arvo Pärt