Da Pacem Domine

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Violoncello — Arvo Part wrote the prayer of piece Da pacem Domine to fulfil a commission from Jordi Savall. He began to set this ninth-century Gregorian antiphon two days after the Madrid bombings on 11 March 2004 as his personal tribute to the victims. Since then Da pacem Domine has been performed every year in Spain to commemorate the victims of this terrorist attack. Even while originally composing this four-voice piece, Part made allowances for variable scorings. As a result, it exists in several versions, not only for voice but also entirely for instruments. (Wolfgang Sandner)