Arvo Pärt: Transcendence in the Heart of Secularity (thesis)

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Author
Day, Roger T., Jr. (Thomas)
Subject
Washington and Lee University -- Honors in Religion
Sacred music
Instrumental music
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Thesis; [FULL-TEXT FREELY AVAILABLE ONLINE] Roger T. Day, Jr. (Thomas) is a member of the Class of 2015 of Washington and Lee University. In this project, I examine the common phenomenon of experiencing the spiritual within
secular music. In particular, I focus upon the mystical minimalist music of contemporary
Estonian composer, Arvo Pärt. By exploring why his secular, instrumental tintinnabuli works
are considered sacred in today’s disenchanted world, I shed light upon how to frame
questions surrounding the sacred in music which must include both concerns with the
external events surrounding his music and the music itself. After tracing Pärt’s history,
considerations in Western music history, the disenchantment thesis, and the current state
of transcendence, I establish a comprehensive picture surrounding the creation and
reception of his tintinnabuli works. I compile all of this information into a cohesive whole to
conclude that Pärt’s music provides a sense of timelessness in its relation to Western tonal
music that allows its recipients to experience what they call a transcendent, spiritual
encounter.