Swansong

Composed in 2013, Swansong was inspired by the commission of the Mozartwoche Festival in Salzburg, where Arvo Pärt was the festival composer in 2014. It is an orchestral version of Littlemore Tractus, initially written for choir and organ in celebration of the 200th anniversary of cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–1890). Cardinal Newman was a very important person in 19th century England – a minister, theologian, poet and thinker who wished to bring Catholic liturgical traditions to the Anglican Church. In 1845, he converted to Catholicism, causing serious polemic in church circles. In 2010, Newman was declared ‘Blessed’ by Pope Benedict XVI.

The work is based on the final lines of one of Newman’s most famous sermons, Wisdom and Innocence, held on 19 …

Composed in 2013, Swansong was inspired by the commission of the Mozartwoche Festival in Salzburg, where Arvo Pärt was the festival composer in 2014. It is an orchestral version of Littlemore Tractus, initially written for choir and organ in celebration of the 200th anniversary of cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–1890). Cardinal Newman was a very important person in 19th century England – a minister, theologian, poet and thinker who wished to bring Catholic liturgical traditions to the Anglican Church. In 1845, he converted to Catholicism, causing serious polemic in church circles. In 2010, Newman was declared ‘Blessed’ by Pope Benedict XVI.

The work is based on the final lines of one of Newman’s most famous sermons, Wisdom and Innocence, held on 19 February 1843 in Littlemore. Over time, this short poetic text has become an independent prayer, used also in Anglican funeral liturgy. The prayer for "a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last" has found a hymn-like expression in Pärt's music. 

Swansong was premiered in January 2014, with Mark Minkowski conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. The Estonian premiere took place in summer 2015 at the Pärnu Music Festival, performed by the festival orchestra conducted by Paavo Järvi.