Songs of the Season – Christmas Lullaby – Arvo Pärt

I first became acquainted with Pärt because when I first became Orthodox, his Kanon Pokajanen was still pretty new and it definitely was a topic amongst the online Orthodox five years later. I think the composition was the first Orthodox music recording I ever purchased; it took me much longer to understand some of what is being sung and that it’s actually a setting for a church service! (I know, sometimes I’m slow!) 

At the same time, I feel like I miss at least half of what Pärt is trying to convey in his music because it tends to be ethereal, and the silence is just as important as the sound; a lot of it reminds me of the sensation of hearing old choral music in huge, old churches. Life is just too hectic now to have that attention and that headspace. 

In any case – “Christmas Lullaby”

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