Olivier Messiaen: Music, Art and Literature: Music, Art and Literature (Music and Literature)

When Olivier Messiaen died in 1992, the prevailing image was of a man apart; a deeply religious man whose only sources of inspiration were God and Nature and a composer whose music progressed along an entirely individual path, artistically impervious to contemporaneous events and the whims both of his contemporaries and the critics. Whilst such a view contains a large element of truth, the past ten years has seen an explosion of interest in the composer, and the work of a diverse range of scholars has painted a much richer, more complex picture of Messiaen. This volume presents some of the fruits of this research for the first time, concentrating on three broad, interrelated areas: Messiaen's relationship with fellow artists; key developments in the composer's musical language and technique; and his influences, both sacred and secular. The volume assesses Messiaen's position as a creative artist of the twentieth century in the light of the latest research. In the process, it identifies some of the key myths, confusions and exaggerations surrounding the composer which often mask equally remarkable truths. In attempting to reveal some of those truths, the essays elucidate a little of the mystery surrounding Messiaen as a man, an artist, a believer and a musician. Specifically, the volume covers Messiaen's attitudes and associations to Cocteau, Stravinsky's Les Noces, Dutilleux and Toesca, as well as exploring his teaching techniques, the Traité de rythme, de couleur et d'ornithologie, Messiaen's harmony, performing and transcription techniques, composing for Ondes Martenot, his association with ballet, Saint François d'Assise and the influence of his faith. Messiaen himself contributes directly in the form of a speech that he gave about the tapestry-maker Jean Lurçat, and the collection also includes the first literary translation of L'âme en bourgeon; the garland of poems written by Messiaen's mother, Cécile Sauvage, when she was expecting him. The composer described these poems as 'the only influence' in his life, making L'âme en bourgeon a fascinating centrepiece to a rich and rewarding collection of essays.

the Volume Assesses Messiaen's Position As A Creative Artist Of The Twentieth Century In The Light Of The Latest Research. In The Process, It Identifies Some Of The Key Myths, Confusions And Exaggerations Surrounding The Composer Which Often Mask Equally Remarkable Truths. In Attempting To Reveal Some Of Those Truths, The Essays Elucidate A Little Of The Mystery Surrounding Messiaen As A Man, An Artist, A Believer And A Musician. Specifically, The Volume Covers Messiaen's Attitudes And Associations To Cocteau, Stravinsky's Les Noces, Dutilleux And Toesca, As Well As Exploring His Teaching Techniques, The Traité De Rythme, De Couleur Et D'ornithologie, Messiaen's Harmony, Performing And Transcription Techniques, Composing For Ondes Martenot, His Association With Ballet, Saint François D'assise And The Influence Of His Faith. Messiaen Himself Contributes Directly In The Form Of A Speech That He Gave About The Tapestry-maker Jean Lurçat, And The Collection Also Includes The First Literary Translation Of L'âme En Bourgeon
The Garland Of Poems Written By Messiaen's Mother, Cécile Sauvage, When She Was Expecting Him. The Composer Described These Poems As 'the Only Influence' In His Life, Making L'âme En Bourgeon A Fascinating Centrepiece To A Rich And Rewarding Collection Of Essays.

when Olivier Messiaen Died In 1992, The Prevailing Image Was Of A Man Apart
A Deeply Religious Man Whose Only Sources Of Inspiration Were God And Nature And A Composer Whose Music Progressed Along An Entirely Individual Path, Artistically Impervious To Contemporaneous Events And The Whims Both Of His Contemporaries And The Critics. Whilst Such A View Contains Alarge Element Of Truth, The Past Ten Years Has Seen An Explosion Of Interest In The Composer, And The Work Of A Diverse Range Of Scholars Has Painted A Much Richer, More Complex Picture Of Messiaen. This Volume Presents Some Of The Fruits Of This Research For The First Time, Concentrating On Three Broad, Interrelated Areas: Messiaen's Relationship With Fellow Artists
Key Developments In The Composer's Musical Language And Technique, And His Influences, Both Sacred And Secular.

the Volume Assesses Messiaen's Position As A Creative Artist Of The Twentieth Century In The Light Of The Latest Research. In The Process, It Identifies Some Of The Key Myths, Confusions And Exaggerations Surrounding The Composer Which Often Mask Equally Remarkable Truths. In Attempting To Reveal Some Of Those Truths, The Essays Elucidate A Little Of The Mystery Surrounding Messiaen As A Man, An Artist, A Believer And A Musician. Specifically, The Volume Covers Messiaen's Attitudes And Associations To Cocteau, Stravinsky's Les Noces, Dutilleux And Toesca, As Well As Exploring His Teaching Techniques, The Traité De Rythme, De Couleur Et D'ornithologie, Messiaen's Harmony, Performing And Transcription Techniques, Composing For Ondes Martenot, His Association With Ballet, Saint François D'assise And The Influence Of His Faith.

messiaen Himself Contributes Directly In The Form Of A Speech That He Gave About The Tapestry-maker Jean Lurçat, And The Collection Also Includes The First Literary Translation Of L'âme En Bourgeon
The Garland Of Poems Written By Messiaen's Mother, Cécile Sauvage, When She Was Expecting Him. The Composer Described These Poems As 'the Only Influence' In His Life, Making L'âme En Bourgeon A Fascinating Centrepiece To A Rich And Rewarding Collection Of Essays.

Cover Half Title Dedication Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of Music Examples List of Figures and Tables Notes on the Contributors Acknowledgements Editors’ Note Introduction 1 Messiaen and Cocteau 2 ‘L’Harmonie de l’Univers’: Maurice Toesca and the genesis of Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus 3 Messiaen and Dutilleux 4 Les Noces and Trois petites Liturgies: an assessment of Stravinsky’s influence on Messiaen 5 From Fête des belles eaux to Saint François d’Assise: the evolution of the writing for Ondes Martenot in the music of Olivier Messiaen 6 Messiaen recorded: the Quatre Études de rythme 7 Messiaen’s chords 8 The Record of realism in Messiaen’s bird style The sources of Oiseaux exotiques The accuracy and technique of Messiaen’s bird transcriptions Surrealism, musique concrète and politics Prime numbers and elemental music Epigraphs and exemplarism Double realism 9 Musical analysis according to Messiaen: a critical view of a most original approach Traces of an oral analysis A celestial banquet of cherished works The technical language of the analyst The system, the idea, the intuition The melodic treasure of Gregorian chant Studies on rhythm The legendary analysis of The Rite of Spring A work of transmutation A langage communicable 10 Messiaen – bibliophile Fiction and poetry Non-fiction 11 Observations on time in Olivier Messiaen’s Traité Philosophies of time The importance of time for Messiaen Traité I, chapter one Analytical summary of chapter one Conclusion Authors referred to by Messiaen 12 L’Ame en bourgeon Cécile Sauvage (translation and afterword by Philip Weller) Afterword 13 The Life and works of Jean Lurçat (1892–1966) Introductory note (Nigel Simeone) 14 Dancing Turangalîla: Messiaen and the ballet 15 Frescoes and legends: the sources and background of Saint François d’Assise Textual sources Visual sources Numerology Liturgical influences Messiaen’s compositional practice Cultural resonances 16 The Works of Olivier Messiaen and the Catholic liturgy I. Messiaen and the liturgy II. The liturgical dimension inherent throughout his work III. Theological Rainbow IV Epilogue Postscript: the influence of the work of Olivier Messiaen upon my spiritual journey Bibliography Index "When Olivier Messiaen died in 1992, the prevailing image was of a man apart; a deeply religious man whose only sources of inspiration were God and Nature and a composer whose music progressed along an entirely individual path, artistically impervious to contemporaneous events and the whims both of his contemporaries and the critics. Whilst such a view contains a large element of truth, the past ten years has seen an explosion of interest in the composer, and the work of a diverse range of scholars has painted a much richer, more complex picture of Messiaen. This volume presents some of the fruits of this research for the first time, concentrating on three broad, interrelated areas: Messiaen's relationship with fellow artists; key developments in the composer's musical language and technique; and his influences, both sacred and secular. The volume assesses Messiaen's position as a creative artist of the twentieth century in the light of the latest research. In the process, it identifies some of the key myths, confusions and exaggerations surrounding the composer which often mask equally remarkable truths. In attempting to reveal some of those truths, the essays elucidate a little of the mystery surrounding Messiaen as a man, an artist, a believer and a musician. Specifically, the volume covers Messiaen's attitudes and associations to Cocteau, Stravinsky's Les Noces, Dutilleux and Toesca, as well as exploring his teaching techniques, the Trait?e rythme, de couleur et d'ornithologie, Messiaen's harmony, performing and transcription techniques, composing for Ondes Martenot, his association with ballet, Saint Fran?s d'Assise and the influence of his faith. Messiaen himself contributes directly in the form of a speech that he gave about the tapestry-maker Jean Lur?, and the collection also includes the first literary translation of L'? en bourgeon; the garland of poems written by Messiaen's mother, C?le Sauvage, when she was expecting him. The composer de"--Provided by publisher Messiaen and Cocteau / Stephen Broad -- L'harmonie de l'univers : mystical and literary influences on the Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus / Edward R.B. Forman -- Messiaen and Dutilleux / Caroline Potter -- Les noces and Trois petites liturgies : an assessment of Stravinsky's influence on Messiaen / Matthew Schellhorn -- From Fête des belles eaux to Saint François d'Assise : the evolution of the writing for ondes Martenot in the music of Olivier Messiaen / Jacques Tchamkerten -- The performance history of Messiaen's Quatre études de rythme / Peter Hill -- Messiaen's chords / Allen Forte -- The record of realism in Messiaen's Oiseaux exotiques / Robert Fallon -- Musical analysis according to Messiaen : a critical view of a most original approach / Jean Boivin -- Messiaen the bibliophile / Gareth Healey -- Observations on time in Olivier Messiaen's traité / Andrew D.J. Shenton -- Lâme en bourgeon / Cécile Sauvage ; translation and introduction by Philip Weller -- Lurçat / Olivier Messiaen -- Dancing Turangalîla : Messiaen and the ballet / Nigel Simeone -- Frescoes and legends : the sources and background of Saint François d'Assise / Christopher Dingle -- The music of Olivier Messiaen and Catholic liturgy / Père Jean-Rodolphe Kars Messiaen and Cocteau / Stephen Broad 'L'harmonie de l'univers' : Maurice Toesca and the genesis of Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus / Edward Forman Messiaen and Dutilleux / Caroline Potter Les noces and Trois petites liturgies : an assessment of Stravinsky's influence on Messiaen / Matthew Schellhorn From Fête des belles eaux to Saint François d'Assise : the evolution of the writing for Ondes Martenot in the music of Olivier Messiaen / Jacques Tchamkerten Messiaen recorded : the Quatre études de rythme / Peter Hill Messiaen's chords / Allen Forte The record of realism in Messiaen's bird style / Robert Fallon Musical analysis according to Messiaen : a critical view of a most original approach / Jean Boivin Messiaen, bibliophile / Gareth Healey Observations on time in Olivier Messiaen's Traité / Andrew Shenton L'Ame en bourgeon / Cécile Sauvage (translation and afterword by Philip Weller) The life and works of Jean Lurçat (1892-1966) / Olivier Messiaen Dancing Turangalîla : Messiaen and the ballet / Nigel Simeone Frescoes and legends : the sources and background of Saint François d'Assise / Christopher Dingle The works of Olivier Messiaen and Catholic liturgy / Père Jean-Rodolphe Kars. This collection of essays has its foundation in the Messiaen 2002 International Conference in Sheffield. However, this is not a set of conference proceedings. Rather, the book gathers some of the best recent scholarship on the composer, filling substantial gaps in the literature and reassessing his legacy