The following is an excerpt from the article ”The god of small things: celebrating Arvo Pärt at 90” by Andrew Shenton, published on July 24, 2025 by The Guardian.

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In many ways Arvo Pärt and John Williams’s music couldn’t be further apart. One celebrates simplicity, purity, and draws much of its inspiration from sacred texts; the other captures strong emotions in sweeping orchestral scores. And yet the two men are today’s most performed contemporary composers. Bachtrack’s annual survey of classical music performed across the world placed Pärt second (John Williams is in the top spot) in 2023 and 2024. In 2022, Pärt was first, Williams second. This year, Pärt might return to No 1 as concert halls and festivals worldwide celebrate his 90th birthday, on 11 September.

Read the full article here:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/24/the-god-of-small-things-celebrating-arvo-part-at-90