Sounds Beyond: Arvo Part and the 1970s Soviet Underground

Sounds Beyond explores the origins of Arvo Pärts most famous music, created in dialogue with underground creative circles in the USSR during the 1970s. Kevin C. Karnes reveals the audacious origins of Pärts work within a culture of collective experimentation, showcasing the rich creative culture that thrived covertly in the USSR and the network of figures that made underground performances possible.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 24 December 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In his captivating book, Sounds Beyond, Kevin C. Karnes delves into the intricate tapestry of the interconnected alternative music and art scenes that flourished in the USSR during the second half of the 1970s. Through meticulous research and diligent exploration of archives and oral histories from across the former USSR, Karnes carefully situates modes of creative experimentation within their late socialist contexts. In his documentation of Estonian composer Arvo Pärts's work, Karnes unveils the rich creative culture that thrived covertly within the USSR, characterized by a network of figures who played pivotal roles in making underground performances possible. These figures included students, audio engineers, sympathetic administrators, star performers, and aspiring DJs. Sounds Beyond offers a fresh perspective on Pärts's music, revealing it as an expression of the aesthetic and religious commitments shared, nurtured, and celebrated by many within Soviet underground circles. At the same time, this story serves as a testament to the enduring power of Pärts's music, challenging the mythology of the solitary creative genius and emphasizing the indispensable role of community in the creation of such profound artistic expressions.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 146 x 224 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226801902