Arvo Pärt

The Woman With The Alabaster Box

The Woman With the Alabaster Box and Tribute to Caesar were both commissioned for the 350th anniversary of the Karlstad Diocese in Sweden in 1997. Both are settings of texts from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, and, although they stand as separate compositions, the two works do have many musical traits in common. Not the least of these is the contrasting use of chordal passages and mostly stepwise melodic declamation, both familiar elements in Pärt's music, but combined here with a new fluidity of texture and a more idiomatic moulding of choral sonorities. (Paul Hillier)

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head, as he sat at meal. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, to what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them: Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me, for ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

the Gospel according to St Matthew, Chapter 26, 6-13