Kanon pokajanen, composed in 1997 based on the text of the Penitential Canon, is the largest work in Arvo Pärt`s work for a capella choir. The composer had previously drawn inspiration from...Read more

Kanon pokajanen, composed in 1997 based on the text of the Penitential Canon, is the largest work in Arvo Pärt`s work for a capella choir. The composer had previously drawn inspiration from Orthodox texts – in 1989 he wrote a piece for the choir a capella Nyne k vam, and five years later – Memento.

The Orthodox canon traditionally includes nine songs on biblical subjects. Each song consists of several short stanzas. Usually the second canto is omitted in all canons, which is also done in Kanon pokajanen. In the first stanza of each song — irmos – the praise of the Lord is ascended to the texts from the Old Testament. Irmos is followed by a troparion, where repentance is spoken of and human weaknesses are lamented. As irmos contrasts with the troparion in the traditional canon, so in the music of Arvo Pärt we see a clear contrast between them.

Arvo Pärt composed Kanon pokajanen for two years. This work, like all other vocal works of the composer, is directly based on the text: `I wanted to give the words the opportunity to

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