Composer

:

Arvo Pärt

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2014

First Performance

:

August 27, 2014

Average_duration

:

1:37

"Drei Hirtenkinder aus Fátima" is a choral work composed by Arvo Pärt in 2006. The piece was premiered on May 13, 2006, in the Basilica of Our Lady of Fátima in Portugal, on the occasion of the 89th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Fátima. The work is divided into three movements, each one dedicated to one of the three shepherd children: Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. The first movement, "Lucia," is a solo for soprano and is characterized by a simple and repetitive melody that is gradually enriched by the addition of other voices. The second movement, "Francisco," is a duet for alto and tenor that features a more complex and dissonant harmony. The third movement, "Jacinta," is a choral piece that combines elements of the previous two movements and ends with a serene and peaceful conclusion. The work is inspired by the story of the three shepherd children who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in Fátima in 1917. Pärt's music reflects the simplicity and innocence of the children's vision, as well as the profound spiritual experience that it represented for them and for the millions of pilgrims who have visited Fátima since then. The use of repetition and minimalism is a characteristic feature of Pärt's style, and it is particularly evident in "Drei Hirtenkinder aus Fátima." The composer's use of silence and space between the notes creates a sense of contemplation and introspection that is in keeping with the spiritual nature of the work. Overall, "Drei Hirtenkinder aus Fátima" is a beautiful and moving tribute to the three shepherd children and to the enduring power of faith and devotion. Its premiere in Fátima was a fitting tribute to the place where the children's vision took place, and it continues to be performed and appreciated by audiences around the world.

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