Spiegel im Spiegel

Spiegel im Spiegel, composition by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt that exemplifies a style he invented and termed tintinnabuli, in which simple fragments of sound recur, like the ringing of bells.

Composed in 1978 for violin and piano and premiered in that year by violinist Vladimir Spivakov, to whom it is dedicated, Spiegel im Spiegel was later transcribed by its composer for various other instrumental combinations, including viola and piano, clarinet and piano, horn and piano, and even saxophone and piano.

In Pärt’s work, melodic elements float upward and downward, sometimes moving only slightly before beginning a new motion in a different direction. The pianist is given steady rising arpeggios and occasional chords. The soloist (violin or other) has very long sustained tones, which also rise and fall, though not always parallel to the piano line. The harmonies and intervals between notes are very open.

Performing Spiegel im Spiegel is a test of consistency for both players. For the pianist, the challenge is to maintain an utterly steady pace with unchanging emphasis on each of those individually placed notes. For the soloist, the challenge is to hold a steady and unwavering tone over the course of those simple sustained phrases, especially difficult for a wind player.

Subtle shifts of key and harmony add to the mood. The effect is not unlike that of minimalism, a style often associated with the music of Philip Glass. However, in Pärt’s hands, the overall result is deeply meditative and elegiac.