Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel

Luiz Usabal y Hernandez (Spanish, 1876-1937), *Virgo,* signed and dated ‘L- USABAL.08’ (lower left); and signed and inscribed ‘VIRGO/ L-USABAL’ (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 80 ¾ x 44 ½ in. (205 x 113 cm.), Image Source: Christie’s

“Spiegel im Spiegel (lit. ‘mirror(s) in the mirror’) is a composition by Arvo Pärt written in 1978, just before his departure from Estonia. The piece is in the tintinnabular style, wherein a melodic voice, operating over diatonic scales, and tintinnabular voice, operating within a triad on the tonic, accompany each other. The title refers to an infinity mirror, which produces an infinity of images reflected by parallel plane mirrors: the tonic triads are endlessly repeated with small variations as if reflected back and forth. The piece was originally written for a single piano and violin, and it’s an example of minimal music.”
HalidonMusic