BETWEEN TWO SOUNDS Arvo Part’s Journey to His Musical Language
By Joonas Sildre, Translated by Adam Cullen
This graphic account of Arvo Part, one of the greatest living composers, is multi layered. His journey from political oppression in Soviet Estonia to freedom in the West is interwoven with his artistic and spiritual journey. The technicalities of his development as a composer will be clear perhaps only to trained musicians. But to the rest of us, it speaks to the role of creativity and intention in all of the arts. In Tallinn, Estonia, a creative psychologist tells Arvo Part that “for a change, one must try out a field in which one is a complete novice.”

Part’s personal musical journey is not a road map for all artists but a sign of how creativity depends on an inner vision and response to the world, physical and spiritual. His compositions that unite melody and triad into one “inseparable ensemble” have a special relationship to silence. Part discovers “a need to concentrate on each sound…just like on every blade of grass.” His creation of Tintinnabuli, or little bells, is “a quest for truth, beauty and purity” that speaks in each sound.

In his composition For Alina, two voices are like two people whose paths sometimes cross or don’t. His search for meaning in composing and his religious search are two strands that do meet when he is on the grounds of Puht Convent in Estonia. “Why do you look so sad?” asks a young woman who happens to cross his path. He replies, “I’m a composer and I’m trying to write music. But it just won’t work.” She replies, “Have you thanked God for it not working?” He comes to realize that “the heart lives perpetually in music, just as in prayer.”

He finds that words are not his medium. “I know a great secret, but only in music can I express it.” For him, his music is a “narrow path” as he mediates the music to “treat a simple sound like a human soul.” His thinking expands to other arts, such as sculpture, in which the artist is also mediator. This engages the reader to consider the role of silence in drama, painting, and in writing, such as Philip Gross’s poem The Musical Cottage. Here a boy is listening to a music box, where “The final note hangs frozen at the tip of being. Thirty years. It will not drop.” (nawe.co.uk).

The reader is encouraged to meditate on Part’s musical vision that “you must begin with what is most important—with practicing love for all creation, and of course for the Creator above all.” It is “astounding” he says, that “evil itself is destroyed when it encounters love.“

NOTE: I am a librarian and I received a paperback ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.

A graphic novel is an interesting medium to tell the story of one of the foremost composers of the late 20th Century, but Joonas Sildre's art and storytelling give the life and music of Arvo Pärt a sensitive and captivating treatment. "Between Two Sounds" is marked by subtlety at every turn, from its color scheme to its pacing, allowing key events in Pärt's life to unfold gradually, as if in a musical composition. By zooming in on the trials and challenges Pärt and his family faced in USSR-occupied Estonia, Sildre reveals Pärt's musical and personal philosophies and how they shaped his compositional output even in the shadow of an authoritarian regime. The tension of that era in history manifests itself in unexpected ways, making the general mood ominous and pensive but never horrific. A little wry humor every now and then adds an additional dimension to this composer and his life. For anyone interested in music history or Eastern European history, "Between Two Sounds" is a breathtaking read.

While I enjoyed the artistic style of this graphic novel, Maybe it's because I'm not well versed in orchestral music, but I felt like I was slogging through it to the end.

VERDICT: Masterful chronicle of Arvo Pärt’s journey, through meticulous research and striking monochromatic illustrations.

I discovered Arvo Pärt a few decades ago and have been mesmerized by his music ever since. All the more so actually since I became Orthodox myself.

I have already read a book on this Estonian musician, the excellent Arvo Pärt: Out of Silence, by Peter C. Bouteneff.
So when I discovered a new book on him was out, and available through Netgalley, I didn’t hesitate a second. Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt’s Journey to His Musical Language is absolutely a must for all of Pärt’s afficionados, and for readers eager to discover something different.

Between Two Sounds is a biography, presented in a chronological order.
It was neat to know better Arvo as a boy and young man, his education, his struggles and his gifts.
Later in life, he went through a ten year music desert, trying to find his own style – this major part of this life, alluded to in the title, is extremely well presented.

There’s also the whole context of the Communist regime and what he had to do to go through the censure. And all the consequences for his career, and his family life, leading to his exile in 1980 – which is actually where the book ends.

Please Sildre, could we now have another book on Pärt after these years?

The book is the fruit of many years of research and collaboration with the musician and his family.
You can really feel the excellency of the author’s work. It translates in many quotations by Pärt himself, but also in a gorgeous simplified illustration style, utilizing only black, gray and white color, that for me captures really well the musician’s inner world and his art.
It is a feat to translate music into art. Sildre did it!
This might be the most successful graphic “novel” biography I have ever read.

The beautiful trailer will give you an idea. The publisher has also put together a great playlist, for you to discover Arvo Pärt or just enjoy his art again and again.

This book was so good that I’m planning on buying it as a gift for a friend who also enjoys a lot Arvo Pärt.

Now a word to the publisher and to the Netgalley team:
It took me a while to read this book, obviously not because of the content, but because of the format. This is a biography presented as a “graphic novel”, something I’m always keen to read. But the e-version was only available as a pdf. And for some reason, I was only able to read it through the Netgalley app, not even on my computer!
I read all my ebooks on my phone. For a regular ebook, it works great, as you can choose your font size. But reading a pdf on a phone is nasty. I had to expand and move the pictures so much, to be able to read all the texts. It was annoying and exhausting for my eyes, so I gave up for a while.
So please publishers, if you have no other option than pdf, please allow at least the reviewer to download the book on his/her computer! Or please use epub. Or ask Netgalley to have a user friendly interface for graphic novels. Hoopla has one, and it works perfectly, so please upgrade!

Due to this file being unreadable, I had to wait for this to be available from a library or on sale online; thankfully it came in to one of my libraries [FLP OverDrive] quickly and I was able to finally read it. My review is below.

I have glimmers of memory of my former in-laws, aunt-in-law, and ex talking about this man, his music [I may have even heard it but that I don't remember, but it wouldn't surprise me], and his mark on Estonia and its music [which they loved and played often] and culture. I found it very interesting that while many Estonians left/fled during the war [including my in-laws; those stories still haunt me], Mr. Pärt chose to stay [along with many other brave souls], especially how that ended up affecting both him and his music.

This is a very well-done graphic novel [that has been meticulously researched, with the help of Mr. Arvo Pärt himself] about a time, place and person that few know about [outside the music world, and even there he is more obscure than most], and I really enjoyed reading his story and getting another glimpse of Estonian life, the music that Mr. Pärt has created, and learning about his often complicated life.

I will admit here that while I was reading this, I kept hearing this story being told by Tadi Helmy [my ex's aunt] and Maami's [my former MIL] voice as they were the storytellers of the family and they would have loved this book, especially Tadi Helmy; everyone in the family loved music, but Helmy was very musical and she would have really felt this book. I think they all would have loved this book and how glad they would have been that more of Estonia's history is being brought to the world, especially in a very accessible way.

This book was so intriguing, the way Mr. Pärt looks at, feels, and sees music, and being musical myself, I know I will be looking for his music to experience it for myself.

If I ever get to visit Estonia, I know that the Arvo Pärt Centre will be a must see destination.

Very well done!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Joonas Sildre, Aile Tooming - Editor, Adam Cullen - Translator, and Plough Publishing House for providing the ARC [and to the Free Library of Philadelphia for acquiring the eBook for their library, so I could actually read it] in exchange for an honest review.

It was 1939. Pärt discovered an old, broken piano in his family’s new apartment. He developed his skills and musical philosophy despite the challenges of World War II, Soviet censorship, health problems, and an institutional tradition of music. Then, after developing a reputation as a modernist composer, he heard a Gregorian chant, which led to the development of his signature technique, tintinnabuli, in which two voices interact, sometimes merging to form an inseparable whole. In time, Pärt’s musical works made him the “most performed living composer in the world

The author has written a graphic novel of the composer’s life and work. The development of Pärt’s compositional style is covered through conversations with his music teachers and through his reactions and observations which I found fascinating.

I knew nothing about Arvo Part going into this and now I'm quite fascinated with his music. The book gave a very detailed accounting of Part's early career. Some of the technical aspects of composing were lost on me, but the sparse art really reflected the composer's style and passion.

I requested an advanced copy of this book because I enjoy both graphic novels and biographies, so I love when the genres are combined. I had never heard of the composer Arvo Part and was curious to learn about his life. It was interesting to read about his life in the soviet Union and how his art was affected by politics. Part tried a variety of styles throughout his life, and this book led me to investigate his music which I quite enjoyed. The illustrations are completely in black and white. This may have been intentional, as it appropriately reflect black and white piano keys as well as the black and white expected behavior in the strict regime. The art also interprets the music itself graphically and expresses Parts feelings and philosophy. However, I was not prepared for all the philosophy that the main character expresses. It was interesting but seemed to bog down the book. Had I already known anything about the man, this may not have come as a surprise.
I recommend this to graphic novel lovers who are also music aficionados or enjoy philosophy. It would also make an excellent addition to schools and libraries.

A haunting silence between two sounds spanning a decade vividly shaped world-famous composer, Arvo Pärt’s journey to discovering his unique musical language and distinctive style, nonconformist and religious in nature. In this graphic novel, aptly titled “Between Two Sounds,” Joonas Sildre describes the cultural, political and spiritual upheavals that transformed the famous Estonian into the most performed living composer in the world. This is an inspiring, atmospheric portrait of a brilliant artist who stormed the 1960’s music scene. Then he mysteriously fell silent, unable to express himself in music. A decade later, he surfaced, finding in that silence between two sounds, a unique musical language inspired by ancient sacred music. This graphic novel appeals to everyone who has known the struggle of what it means to remain true to oneself, in spite of all odds, whatever the cost. This thought-provoking graphic novel makes one think deeply about issues that are of the utmost significance. It inspires us to aspire to reach out for the highest and best. I encourage you to get your own copy of a graphic novel that will stay on your bookshelf forever.

My knowledge about composers and Estonia are both nil, which is rather disappointing considering this wonderful book I had the privilege of reading. I was given an early copy of Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt's Journey To His Musical Language by Joonas Sildre and translated by Adam Cullen. Then again, my ignorance turned out to be for the best, because I was able to learn so much about a talented composer and his life's story, which made for an exciting reading adventure.

So, why did I fall in love with this book? Well, first off, I loved the title of the book - it immediately intrigued me. Secondly, the books' cover - oh, my! I loved it! It had me wanting to grab a copy of the book straightaway. And, third, it was a graphic novel - I love graphic novels! How could I resist reading this book, right? Plus, it was about a new-to-me topic, the composer, Arvo Pärt. I love learning new things and learning about a composer sounded like fun. It really did, especially given that it would be in graphic novel form - anything with illustrations will make learning a thrill. Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - it was eye-opening and fascinating. Learning about Arvo Pärt's journey is amazing - you can't help but get carried away in his story and the history - plus, the visuals add a layer of depth. Oh, and his music - what he composed was just brilliant! I found myself looking it up and listening to it as I read his story. Talk about an excellent soundtrack!

All in all, Between Two Sounds is a definite must- read! I enjoyed every second I spent with this book and would definitely recommend it to everyone - make sure to check it out!

I usually read children’s graphic novels, so I thought I would try and enjoy an adult one. I have also played the violin for over 30 years, so I thought I would enjoy this book with my huge interest in music. This book was interesting. The pictures were wonderful and showed much emotion. The story was about a famous composer. The only set back was some of the words were not English. I also do not know all the background of the Soviets and Russian conflicts that have happened.
This would not be a book that I would share with my students. I work in a really small rural school. If I were in a bigger district this would be something I would use in my teaching.

This is one of my first times reading a graphic novel, and I found this format to be perfect for conveying intricate details about the life of this musician I knew nothing about until now.

I honestly would not have sought out a lengthy book about this person, nor would it have probably kept my attention, just based on the genres I normally read. However, the format of this lent itself so well to drawing me in to learn about someone new.

The illustrations and text provided a nuanced depiction of life as a creative behind the Soviet regime’s grip on the populace. Well worth reading and a pleasant way to learn about and appreciate a life story.

A friend introduced me to Arvo Part’s music several years ago. I was (and am) enchanted, but have known nothing of the man other than that he is Estonian. This graphic biography more than fills in the essential facts. For me the graphic form brings a dynamic representation of Part’s intellectual and emotional growth to finding his ‘sound’. Although it can’t be close to what Part actually experienced the reader is given an indication of his complexity and drive, as well as the complications of living under the Soviet system while staying true to himself.

I don't read graphic novels very often but I do like trying new translated fiction. Between Two Sounds is by an Estonian author and I've not read anything written by or about Estonia before.

I'm not really a musical person and I was not at all familiar with Arvo Pärt. If you are musically inclined, and a fan of classical music, then you will enjoy this graphic novel. There is a lot of talk about different musical styles or maybe they are techniques - I was not familiar with any of it. The subtitle for this book is Arvo Pärt’s Journey to His Musical Language so it is really focused on how he attempted new ways of interpreting music.

I didn't really find the graphics all that helpful in understanding the story and often found myself not even really looking at them. I didn't always recognize characters that had appeared earlier so I wasn't always sure who he was talking with. And one panel I misinterpreted. It showed Arvo with a woman on his moped and then a few panels later she is holding a baby (at least I think it is the same woman) so I thought he married her, but he didn't get married until years later. But as a piece of art, some of the panels are very interesting in their simplicity.

There's also no real narrative story. Instead, it is laid out like a detailed timeline. The chapters with the year in a big dot. We are given moments in time which gives the story a disjointed feel as the scenes aren't connected and some even feel like non-sequiturs.

There are a few comments about the time period but if you don't know about the Cold War era and the Iron Curtain, then you might not get some of the references. At first, I didn't understand how a symphonic piece of music could be considered subversive - some of the music styles/techniques that Arvo explored were banned. Later I realized that his music had words associated with them as they were choral arrangements which made more sense why the government didn't like it.

I also didn't understand why they exiled him from Estonia. They were upset when another artist/creative person defected but then they forced Arvo and his family to leave. Was he just too famous to imprison (or worse)?

There were several moments that I would have liked to have delved fuller into to understand the political climate and what was going on in Arvo's life.

I'm not sure if the sparse details are just the author's style or if it is indicative of the Estonian literary style. I would like to read other books by Estonian authors.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/09/between-two-sounds-by-joonas-sildre.html

Even if you are unfamiliar with modern classical music, Sildre does a fantastic job representing it, with both words and images. As a result, this might be one of the best biographical graphic novels in quite some time. It holds a great deal of visual power, while capturing the artistry and humility of its subject. Full review here: https://www.jbspins.com/2024/09/between-two-sounds-arvo-part-graphic.html

One of the things I love about Plough Publishing is that they have such a variety of books. I was invited to read this graphic novel. I had never heard of Arvo Part, but now I have and I have listened to his music. It is brilliant!

The story of his life and composing was done via a graphic novel and in black and white. I think its starkness also brought a richness to the story. I loved the format of the book. This was after all a Soviet run country. Estonia is no longer a part of Russia . They declared their independence in 1991, but from 1940 on, they had been annexed by Russia. Communism was a force and even upon music.

I enjoyed the story of Arvo Part and his struggle with music and the State and his genius. This book has sparked my interest in Arvo Parks music and the country he came from.

Thank you Plough Publishing and NetGalley for this early read.

Between Two Sounds is an illustrated book about the life of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and his musical journey from childhood into adulthood. It is not a traditional biography and not necessarily what I would recommend to someone completely new to the composer, but it was interesting to read and visually beautiful. I have long been a fan of Pärt's work and knew little of his life, his experience in Soviet Estonia or his musical journey and evolution. Seeing his defiant character described so vividly was interesting and enlightening.

I think ultimately the book would be hard for me to recommend cause the subject and the presentation is so niche. If you were visiting Estonia I could see this being a nice souvenir but due to the format it doesn't go into detail into his life and moves fairly quick. The illustrations do a great job of showing the effects of his music, how his compositions fill the space and the audience reaction - which is really impressive.

I was intrigued to hear more about his spiritual approach to music and the book made me want to look further for answers, because unfortunately it didn't have them all for me. I think if I was an Estonian reader who was already familiar with his life and Estonia's history the book wouldn't feel as lacking but it does feel like there are some things that slip through the cracks when you don't walk into this book with much prior context.

In this graphic biography for YA and adults, Sildre managed two very difficult tasks: he presented the life of a composer I wasn't familiar with in a way that kept me wanting to know more, and he found ways to represent music and interior thoughts graphically. Pärt may be one of the least known, most played composers in the world. While I had never listened to Pärt's music before, this book had me searching for him online. Recommended both to music lovers and to those interested in Estonian artistic life during the Communist era.

This graphic novels takes you into the life of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, this was my introduction to his music which some I've heard prior unbeknownst to me. The graphic novel takes you through his life, on how he came to love music, his ups and downs with life, illness, social issues and communism and escaping from it, all while also being a true artist and a revolutionary to his own beat. In the few pages a lot was said and felt, not only did it educate me on part of world history I had no knowledge of but introduced me to a new wave of sounds that I'll be adding to my playlists, his music is an experience, a tale told and this graphic novel did an excellent job at translating that. I was given the chance to read this thanks to NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

I got an ARC of this book.

I have read almost every other book put out by this publisher. I was ready. This is by far my favorite. Not only is the art more approachable, the text is easier to read. It just worked so much better as a graphic novel than the others have. That alone made me devour this book.

The story was easy to follow, which is a huge plus in a biography. I will admit I have no idea who the composer was before I started reading. I was just excited to see another graphic novel from this publisher. I feel like I know a lot more and am very interested in his music. I ended up putting on youtube compilations of some of his work so I can maybe hear what was being described. It is still way beyond me, but the story did not suffer for my lack of musical knowledge.

I just really liked this book. It felt approachable. It felt well done. It really just worked as a graphic novel and as a biography. It was a wonderful read and I am glad I got a chance to read it. I will be recommending this to my people like like biographies or want to try non-fiction graphic novels.