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Entering Music

Arvo Pärt

By Stratton Rawson,

Richie English

Published May 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT

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After talking about Shostakovich who often lived and worked as though there was a gun to his head, Richie and I wanted to talk about another composer who, having been born in a country oppressed by Soviet rule and endured the limitations placed upon his musical career, went silent for a time. Only to re-emerge as a composer whose music embodied the concept of hope. And so, Arvo Pärt’s quiet, devotional music became an international sensation.

Entering Music 2026

Stratton Rawson

Stratton Rawson grew up in the Hudson Valley of New York State midway between the Hudson River and the Appalachian Trail in the shadow of some the oldest mountains on earth.

See stories by Stratton Rawson

Richie English

Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Richie English has worked extensively as a pianist, teacher, and composer since childhood. He began studying piano at ten years old with Frieda Manes, and within a year was the youngest piano teacher registered with Denton, Cottier & Daniels in state history.

See stories by Richie English

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