Joonas Sildre

NOTE: I am a librarian and I received a paperback ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.

A graphic novel is an interesting medium to tell the story of one of the foremost composers of the late 20th Century, but Joonas Sildre's art and storytelling give the life and music of Arvo Pärt a sensitive and captivating treatment. "Between Two Sounds" is marked by subtlety at every turn, from its color scheme to its pacing, allowing key events in Pärt's life to unfold gradually, as if in a musical composition. By zooming in on the trials and challenges Pärt and his family faced in USSR-occupied Estonia, Sildre reveals Pärt's musical and personal philosophies and how they shaped his compositional output even in the shadow of an authoritarian regime. The tension of that era in history manifests itself in unexpected ways, making the general mood ominous and pensive but never horrific. A little wry humor every now and then adds an additional dimension to this composer and his life. For anyone interested in music history or Eastern European history, "Between Two Sounds" is a breathtaking read.… (more)