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Olivier Messiaen
Born: December 10, 1908; France
Died: April 27, 1992; France
Period: 20th Century
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Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist, teacher, and ornithologist whose music is distinguished by his deep devotion to Catholicism, exoticism, and nature. At the age of 11 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, studying organ and improvisation with Marcel Dupré and composition with Paul Dukas. In 1930, he became the principal organist at La Trinité Cathedral in Paris, a post he held for more than 40 years. His distinguished teaching
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There are 432 recordings available.
Select a specific Work or Most Popular Work below.
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Works
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Apparition de l'église éternelle (24)
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Cantéyodjayâ (13)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux (8)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 1, Le chocard des alpes (2)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 10, La merle de roche (2)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 11, La buse variable (2)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 12, Le traquet rieur (3)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 13, Le courlis cendré (5)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 2, Le loriot (2)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 3, Le merle bleu (3)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 4, Le traquet stapazin (3)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 5, La chouette hulotte (3)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 6, L'alouette lulu (4)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 7, La rousserolle effarvatte (4)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 8, L'alouette calandrelle (2)
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Catalogue d'oiseaux: no 9, La bouscarle (3)
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Chant dans le style de Mozart (1)
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Chant des déportés (1)
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Chants de Terre et de Ciel (6)
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Chants de Terre et de Ciel: no 6, Résurrection (3)
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Chronochromie (5)
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Chronochromie: Part 1 (1)
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Chronochromie: Part 2 (1)
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Concert à quatre (2)
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Concert à quatre: Vocalise (1)
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Couleurs de la cité céleste (5)
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Des canyons aux étoiles (6)
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Des canyons aux étoiles: 12th movement, Zion Park et la cité céleste (1)
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Des canyons aux étoiles: 6th movement, Appel interstellaire (1)
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Diptyque for Organ (13)
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Éclairs sur l'au-delà... (6)
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Éclairs sur l'au-delà...: no 5, Demeurer dans l'Amour... (1)
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Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum (10)
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Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum: no 1, Des profondeurs de l'abîme, je crie (1)
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Études (4) de rhythme (5)
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Études (4) de rhythme: no 1, Ile de Feu no 1 "Presque vif" (2)
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Études (4) de rhythme: no 4, Ile de Feu no 2 "Vif et féroce" (1)
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Fantaisie burlesque for Piano (8)
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Fantasie for Violin and Piano (3)
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Fête des belles eaux (1)
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Feuillet inédit no 4 (2)
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Feuillets inédits (1)
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Haïkaï (7) (6)
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Harawi (8)
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Harawi: no 10, Amour oiseau d'étoile (1)
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Harawi: no 9, L'Escalier redit, gestes du soleil (1)
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Hymne au Saint-Sacrement (5)
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Inedits for Piano and Onde Martenot (4) (1)
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L'albime des oiseaux (1)
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L'Ascension for Orchestra (12)
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L'Ascension, 4 Meditations for Organ (26)
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L'Ascension, 4 Meditations for Organ: 1st movement, Majesté du Christ.. (4)
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L'Ascension, 4 Meditations for Organ: 2nd Movement, Alleluias sereins d'une âme qui désire le ciel (5)
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L'Ascension, 4 Meditations for Organ: 3rd movement, Transports de joie d'une âme devant la gloire... (8)
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L'Ascension, 4 Meditations for Organ: Excerpt(s) (1)
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La fauvette des jardins (10)
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La mort du nombre (5)
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La nativité du Seigneur (21)
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La nativité du Seigneur: Excerpt(s) (3)
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La nativité du Seigneur: no 2, Les bergers (3)
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La nativité du Seigneur: no 3, Desseins éternels (1)
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La nativité du Seigneur: no 6, Les anges (2)
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La nativité du Seigneur: no 8, Les mages (2)
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La nativité du Seigneur: no 9, Dieu parmi nous (23)
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La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ (5)
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La ville d'en haut (3)
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Le banquet céleste (19)
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Le merle noir (30)
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Le tombeau resplendissant (1)
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Les corps glorieux (13)
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Les corps glorieux: Combat de la mort et de la vie (2)
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Les corps glorieux: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Les corps glorieux: Joie et clarté des corps glorieux (5)
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Les offrandes oubliées (12)
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Les offrandes oubliées: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Livre d'orgue (12)
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Livre d'orgue: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Livre du Saint Sacrement (14)
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Livre du Saint Sacrement: no 16, Prière après la Communion (1)
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Livre du Saint Sacrement: no 8, Institution de l'Eucharistie (1)
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Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte Trinité (15)
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Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte Trinité: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte Trinité: Le Fils, Verbe et Lumiére (3)
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Mélodies (3) (6)
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Mélodies (3): no 1, Pourquoi? (2)
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Mélodies (3): no 2, Le sourire (2)
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Mélodies (3): no 3, La fiancée perdue (3)
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Messe de la Pentecôte (17)
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Messe de la Pentecôte: Communion "Les oiseaux et les sources" (1)
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Messe de la Pentecôte: Entrée (1)
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Messe de la Pentecôte: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Messe de la Pentecôte: Offertoire (1)
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Messe de la Pentecôte: Offertoire "Les choses visibles et invisibles" (1)
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Messe de la Pentecôte: Sortie (1)
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Messe de la Pentecôte: Sortie "Le vent de l'Espirit" (2)
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Monodie (5)
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Morceau de lecture à vue (1)
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O sacrum convivium! (35)
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Offrande au Saint Sacrement (9)
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Oiseaux exotiques (8)
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Petites Esquisses d'oiseaux (8)
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Petites Esquisses d'oiseaux: no 1, Le rouge-gorge (1)
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Petites Esquisses d'oiseaux: no 2, Le merle noir (2)
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Petites Esquisses d'oiseaux: no 3, Le rouge-gorge (1)
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Petites Esquisses d'oiseaux: no 4, La grive musicienne (1)
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Petites Esquisses d'oiseaux: no 5, Le rouge-gorge (1)
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Petites Esquisses d'oiseaux: no 6, L'alouette des champs (1)
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Petites liturgies (3) de la Présence Divine (12)
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Piece for Piano and String Quartet (3)
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Pièce pour le tombeau de Paul Dukas (8)
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Poèmes pour Mi (13)
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Poèmes pour Mi: Book 1 (1)
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Poèmes pour Mi: Book 2 (1)
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Poèmes pour Mi: no 8, Le collier (2)
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Poèmes pour Mi: no 9, Prière exaucée (2)
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Prelude for Organ (5)
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Prelude for Piano (6)
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Preludes (8) for Piano (14)
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Preludes (8) for Piano: no 1, La colombe (6)
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Preludes (8) for Piano: no 2, Chant d'extase dans un paysage triste (1)
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Preludes (8) for Piano: no 3, Le nombre léger (4)
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Preludes (8) for Piano: no 4, Instants défunts (1)
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Preludes (8) for Piano: no 5, Les sons impalpables du rêve (3)
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Preludes (8) for Piano: no 6, Cloches d'angoisses et larmes d'adieu (1)
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Preludes (8) for Piano: no 7, Plainte calme (1)
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Prière après la Communion (2)
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Quatre études de rhythme (5)
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Quatre études de rhythme: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Quatre études de rhythme: no 1, Ile de Feu I (3)
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Quatre études de rhythme: no 2, Ile de Feu II (2)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps (34)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 1st movement, Liturgie de cristal (2)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 2nd movement, Vocalise, pour l'Ange qui announce la fin du temps (1)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 3rd movement, Abîme des oiseaux (4)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 4th movement, Intermede (1)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 5th movement, Louange à l'Eternité de Jésus (15)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 6th movement, Danse de la fureur, pour les sept trompettes (2)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 7th movement, Fouilles d'arcs en ciel, pour l'ange qui annonce le fin (2)
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Quatuor pour la fin du temps: 8th movement, Louange à l'immortalité de Jésus (3)
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Rechants (5) (10)
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Rechants (5): no 4, Très vif (1)
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Réveil des oiseaux (6)
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Rondeau for Piano (7)
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Saint François d'Assise (3)
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Saint François d'Assise: Ah! Dieu nous éblouit par excès de vérité (1)
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Saint François d'Assise: Frères oiseaux, en tous temps... (1)
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Thème et Variations for Violin and Piano (23)
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Turangalîla-Symphonie (17)
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Turangalîla-Symphonie: 5th movement, Joie du sang des étoiles (6)
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Turangalîla-Symphonie: 6th movement, Jardin du sommeil d'amour, très modéré, très tendre (1)
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Turangalîla-Symphonie: 7th movement, Turangalîla 2 (1)
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Turangalîla-Symphonie: 8th movement, Développement d'amour (1)
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Turangalîla-Symphonie: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Un sourire (4)
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Un vitrail et des oiseaux (3)
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Verset pour la fête de la dédicace (12)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus (20)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 1, Regard du Père (1)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 10, Regard de l'esprit de joie (7)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 11, Première communion de la Vierge (4)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 12, La parole toute-puissante (1)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 13, Noël (4)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 15, Le baiser de l'enfant Jésus (5)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 16, Regard des prophètes, desbergers et des mages (3)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 17, Regard du silence (4)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 19, Je dors, mais mon coeur veille (2)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 2, Regard de l'étoile (1)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 20, Regard de l'église d'amour (1)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 3, L'échange (1)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 4, Regard de la vierge (3)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 6, Par lui tout a été fait (2)
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Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus: no 9, Regard du temps (1)
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Visions de l'amen (25)
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Vocalise-Etude for Clarinet and Piano (2)
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Vocalise-étude for Soprano and Piano (2)
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Work(s) (1)
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Biography |
by Todd McComb
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Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist, teacher, and ornithologist whose music is distinguished by his deep devotion to Catholicism, exoticism, and nature. At the age of 11 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, studying organ and improvisation with Marcel Dupré and composition with Paul Dukas. In 1930, he became the principal organist at La Trinité Cathedral in Paris, a post he held for more than 40 years. His distinguished teaching career is marked by appointments in Darmstadt (1950-1953), his famous courses in harmony and analysis at the Paris Conservatoire beginning in 1947, and his appointment as professor of composition there in 1966. His impressive list of students includes Boulez, Stockhausen, and his second wife, keyboardist Yvonne Loriod, among many others.
In synthesizing an individual style, Messiaen discovered in the music of Debussy the properties of "exotic" modes such as the whole-tone and diminished scales, calling them "modes of limited transposition." The inherent symetricalities of these modes enabled Messiaen to create progressions and melodies free of the tonic-dominant polarity of traditional tonal music, while remaining independent of the twelve-tone system as well. Messiaen was gifted with a strong sense of "synaesthesia" or hearing in colors. He often described his music in terms of "color progressions," also equating key signatures and collections (sets) of pitches with specific colors. At an early age, Messiaen developed a strong interest in rhythm, particularly fostered by Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. His rhythmic investigations ranged from Gregorian chant, to ancient Greek poetic meters, to Indian raga, to gamelan music. He soon left regular metric divisions behind, although repetition remained an integral part of his rhythmic vocabulary. All of these elements are explained in great detail in his 1944 publication, Technique de mon langage musical (Technique of my musical language).
In 1940, while a prisoner of war of the Germans, Messiaen composed Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time). The quartet's unique instrumentation of piano, clarinet, violin, and cello was written for, and premiered by Messiaen and three fellow inmates while in detention; it became one of the great chamber works of the twentieth century. Messiaen was one of the first composers to apply serial techniques to parameters other than pitch (such as duration, register, and dynamics) in Mode de valeurs et d'intensités (1949) for solo piano. His interest in plain chant and rhythm led him to the ancient Greeks and Hindus, where he discovered processes such as nonretrogradable, additive, and subtractive rhythms. The Turangalila-symphonie of 1948 is the most synthetic of his early works. It features rich orchestration, imaginative use of tonal colors, Hindu rhythms, and a formal scheme that unfolds in large, block-like structures. Also of note here is one of the earliest uses of the Ondes Martenot, an electronic instrument capable of producing eerie glissandi, as well as monophonic melodies. Messiaen had a deep love of birdsong, and spent much time in the wild making extensive transcriptions, many of which would surface in his works, most notably in an arresting orchestral passage in Chronochromie (1960) and the monumental Catalogue d'oiseaux (Catalog of the Birds) (1958) for solo piano. His large body of organ music, composed primarily during his tenure as organist at the Sainte Trinite Cathedral, is highly idiomatic, colorful in harmony and registration, and rhythmically ingenious. From 1950, his Messe de la Pentecote (Mass of the Pentecost) is a collection of improvisations that he shaped into a composition. His only opera, St. Francis d'Assise, was completed in 1983. |
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