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Arvo Pärt

Berliner Messe

Berliner Messe (or Berlin Mass) is a mass setting by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Commissioned for the 90th Katholikentag in Berlin in 1990, it was originally scored for SATB soloists and organ. It

Structure#

The work consists of five movements of the Mass ordinary and three movements intended for the celebration of Pentecost: * Kyrie * Gloria * Erster Alleluiavers (First Alleluia) * Zweiter Alleluiavers (Second Alleluia) * Veni Sancte Spiritus * Credo * Sanctus * Agnus Dei The fact that the mass was originally written for Pentecost is evidenced by the presence of the two Alleluias and the Veni Sancte Spiritus. However, Pärt has also set two Alleluia verses to permit the work to be used at Christmas. All five of these movements are marked “ad lib.” in the score.

Recordings#

  • Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, dir. Tõnu Kaljuste (choir/string orchestra, 1993)
  • Oregon Repertory Singers, dir. Gilbert Seeley (choir/organ, 1993)
  • Polyphony, dir. Stephen Layton (choir/organ, 1998)
  • Theatre of Voices, dir. Paul Hillier (soloists/organ, 2000)
  • Elora Festival Singers, dir. Noel Edison (choir/string orchestra, 2004)
  • Moscow Virtuosi, dir. Vladimir Spivakov (choir/string orchestra, 2004)
  • Byrd Ensemble, dir. Markdavin Obenza (choir/organ, 2013)
  • Choir of Leeds Cathedral, dir. Benjamin Saunders (choir/organ, 2015) The Kyrie was featured in the film, Avengers: Age of Ultron.
  • Berliner Messe in its original Latin text and English translation
Composer
Arvo Pärt