The music of Estonian-born composer Arvo Part is a unique and powerful voice in the contemporary world. Using a tonal idiom based on a mixture of scales and triads, Part created a style that he calls 'tintinnabulli'. Listening to it reminds one of the passionate tranquillity of some Russian icon, or of certain memorable scenes in the films of Andrei Tarkovsky.

In this book, the first comprehensive study of Part, Paul Hillier explores the tintinnabuli works in considerable depth. He also examines the music of the composer's earlier, somewhat neglected, serial period, and charts the steady evolution towards the 'abstract tonality' of Part's later years.

In addition, a biographical chapter and discussion of topics such as Russian Orthodox spirituality, minimalism, and the influence of early music, combine to make this a standard introduction to the music of Arvo Part. Hillier also draws on his own experience of working with the composer in discussing various performance issues.