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NPR Classical

By Tom Huizenga

Published June 20, 2019 at 12:01 PM CDT

The Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, who just turned 90, writes slow moving music that's often described as timeless.

Updated September 18, 2025 at 9:43 AM CDT

Updated Sep. 18, 2025: The Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, beloved by the likes of Björk and Thom Yorke, just turned 90. To mark the occasion, hear 20 essential Pärt tracks, from his early work to his signature, timeless sound world that inspires a curious inner calm.

Need a deep discovery experience? Try 1,000 years of music in this playlist from NPR Classical's Tom Huizenga, which explores everything from new releases to old favorites, and classics from the dawn of the recording era. Our mantra: Bach, Beethoven, before and beyond.

Stream: Spotify

Tom Huizenga

Tom Huizenga is a producer for NPR Music. He contributes a wide range of stories about classical music to NPR's news programs and is the classical music reviewer for All Things Considered. He appears regularly on NPR Music podcasts and founded NPR's classical music blog Deceptive Cadence in 2010.