The Estonian Cello
Music by Tüür, Pärt et al
Allar Kaasik vc, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and others
BIS BIS1887

I’d wager that a solid proportion of these works would be unfamiliar to most listeners. The most-played composer on this disc, “Holy Minimalist” Arvo Pärt, makes an appearance only through one of his early pieces. Still, there are elements of Pärt’s calm minimalism in the other pieces, given the thread of spirituality running through this disc. In the notes, cellist Allar Kaasik links the explicitly religious nature of some of this music to his experiences performing in churches.