Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)

Started by bhodges, January 03, 2008, 09:35:19 AM

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You did it

I always find myself back at Messiaen, whether it's from biography related stuff or from composing myself. Such a profound and exciting composer, the harmony alone is worth the price of admission  :D

You did it

Roll over Grisey, it's Messiaen season!


"and the birds sang their pretty song, and there is always music in the air"


BANG BANG Canyons BANG BANG Turangalila SCREAM!!!!!! Now smile of joy.

Messiaen season: Nov-?2017-201#?

Mirror Image

I wonder if they prescribe Ritalin to adults nowadays? I know someone who needs it. ;) ;D

You did it

Quote from: Mirror Image on November 19, 2017, 06:34:29 PM
I wonder if they prescribe Ritalin to adults nowadays? I know someone who needs it. ;) ;D

If that was too cryptic for you weelllllllll:

I got the full scores for both of those works right now and I'm on top of the fucking moon, so excited!  ;D  8)

You did it

And my new course is off to a grreeeeaaatt start  :-*

You did it

I am not shitting you, there is a sparrow in the library (that obviously got through one of the main entrances)

I can't help but feel amused by that when I'm reading these Messiaen scores  :laugh:

You did it

Leaving out the work as a whole, both "Omao, leiothrix, elepaio, shama" and "Zion Park et la cité céleste" from Des Canyons really gets to me, it's so inspiring. Some of those big thick melodic chord sections bring on emotions close to tears, it's connected to that spiritually (not religious) invigorating sense of awe and beauty.   :'(

I really enjoy the hell out of "Appel interstellaire" (the big horn solo) and "Bryce Canyon et les rochers rouge-orange", both of which continue a sense of excitement and exotic, spacey colors.  8)

Just a fucking amazing work all round, but they are my favorite four sections I think   :)

lescamil

Quote from: Le Moderniste on November 20, 2017, 12:02:59 AM
Leaving out the work as a whole, both "Omao, leiothrix, elepaio, shama" and "Zion Park et la cité céleste" from Des Canyons really gets to me, it's so inspiring. Some of those big thick melodic chord sections bring on emotions close to tears, it's connected to that spiritually (not religious) invigorating sense of awe and beauty.   :'(

I really enjoy the hell out of "Appel interstellaire" (the big horn solo) and "Bryce Canyon et les rochers rouge-orange", both of which continue a sense of excitement and exotic, spacey colors.  8)

Just a fucking amazing work all round, but they are my favorite four sections I think   :)

I saw this piece live during the Messiaen year 2008 and it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I wanted to cry during the slow 8th movement...
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You did it

#469
Quote from: lescamil on November 20, 2017, 08:57:06 AM
I saw this piece live during the Messiaen year 2008 and it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I wanted to cry during the slow 8th movement...

I love how he jumps between really majestic/ethereal/grand moods and more nuanced/solemn emotional (in a reserved, personal way) moods in his work. To which he has pretty much done right off the bat!

Messiaen also clearly articulates how intensity and calmness (or fast and slow, loud and quiet etc) both compliment each other, even at the same time (like Ives done in many ensemble/orchestral works)


So moving back to that 8th movement, the harmonies in that movement are so beautiful (though very idiosyncratic of Messiaen) and the birdsong too adds so much emotional weight in this movement.
But the very last movement of Canyons is probably the one that gets to me the most.


Turangalila, Quartet and Eclairs (off the top of my head) have slow movements that hit me hard too (disregarding the awesome faster/busier movements), the last movement of Eclairs for instance:

:'( :'( :'( :'(

That pulls very strongly on my heart, more than any other piece I've heard.

snyprrr

Again I am seeking for the  best in the three big piano works, 'Visions...', 'vingt...', and the Catalog of Birds.


Aimard sounds great but is thoroughly MOR as far as taking chances and being dangerous


need a truly spectacular 'Visions...', in perfect sound


I do like Beroff"s 'Vingt...' in spite of any reservations


Muraro seems to be more affordable than Peter Hill...


Austbo seems better in 'Vingt...' than Aimard, but Aimard's sound is better??

Does anyone recommend Osborne over the competition in VR?



Serkin seems to be getting mixed reviews now that we have have so many moderns to choose from?



Messiaen can be such a tonic!

Mandryka

Quote from: snyprrr on January 28, 2018, 06:58:26 PM





Does anyone recommend Osborne over the competition in VR?





Yes, for the colour. Osborne is good at piano colours.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

snyprrr

Quote from: Mandryka on January 28, 2018, 09:46:21 PM
Yes, for the colour. Osborne is good at piano colours.

Seriously, I need some help here...

My main problem would be $$$...

I have concluded from Reviews that Osborne would be the best choice here, but he is still at full price, @$30incl. s+h... with 'Visions...', and the Bird Catalog (also somewhat expensive), we're looking at quite the investment, hence, my desire to get that which will forever quench the desire (nobody wants to make a $30 error (not saying Osborne would be an error))...

I am drawn to Beroff for the sound and the sound the fingers are making, but I understand his recording couldn't hold a candle to the Hyperion.

I only hear good things about the Muraro DVD, no voices yet on the Accord recording...

I still want to know if anyone can compare Austbo with Aimard here. I like Austbo better, but the two sound pictures are different, and the Naxos has a lot more 'room' than the Teldec.


Ogdon[/b]&Loriod I'm currently dismissing at the time, just for my own reasons... I knowI know


The rest of the contenders, all on small labels?, are pretty expensive at full price...

Zehn?


http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/Themes/default/images/bbc/bold.gifHOW DOES THIS CRAP HAPPEN????????so annoying

snyprrr

#473
VINGT REGARDS


     Loriod'56       Loriod'88       Ogdon       Beroff        Serkin      Osborne        Muraro'99        Aimard         Batagov

01:**4:57              5:21            7:59*          5:42           8:10*         8:10*            5:06               6:10              9:09**

02:   2:47              2:55           *2:33           2:52           3:34          2:49              3:02               3:15              4:17*
03:   3:17              3:34          **1:47           3:28           3:19          3:37              3:24              *2:58              3:39

04:   4:54             *4:48            6:42**         5:09           4:56          5:02              4:57               5:16              7:08**
05:   5:45              5:36            8:35**        *5:14           6:27          6:53              6:33               5:24             10:15***
06:  10:40            10:23           *9:08         *9:04          10:46        *9:39             10:44             10:57            13:35**

07:  *3:42              *3:55           4:27*          4:53*          4:14          4:27*          **3:09             **3:34              5:51***

08:   2:26               2:22         **1:59          *2:07           2:20          2:14              2:20               2:17              2:43*
09:   3:24               3:00          *2:25           3:08           2:50          2:45              2:54               3:12              3:59**
10:                        8:40          11:24**         8:11           8:01         8:43              9:08                8:11            11:10**

11:                        7:51        ***4:38           *6:51           8:15         7:51              7:55             **6:23             8:56*

12:                        2:57            2:31           2:23            2:26        *2:19              2:35                2:23             2:53

13:                        4:10           *3:53           4:19           4:09          4:11              4:33*               4:01             5:08**
14:                        4:51            4:41           4:33           4:34          4:50              5:02                4:55             5:06

15:                      10:16           12:23          *8:38         12:04       11:42             11:42              10:04           18:05***

16:                        2:50             3:41           2:55         *2:33         3:09              2:56                3:10             3:44
17:                        5:10             5:35           5:02          6:05         5:31              5:02                5:12             7:02**
18:                        6:49             8:31**         6:23          5:41         6:20              6:19                6:26             7:05*

19:                        9:53            11:46          9:12          8:53        10:29             8:00               10:08           13:38***
20:                      12:53.............13:03       *11:19        13:00        15:34           12:45               11:59           16:24***

Mirror Image


SurprisedByBeauty

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 02, 2018, 04:50:22 PM
Has anyone heard this? Any good?



I've heard it several times, thinking that it should wow me. It's certainly VERY good... I wonder if the clarinet part has ever been played as well as here; certainly never better.
I have in the past done comparative QPLFDTemps listenings (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Jan09/Messiaen_quatuor.htm), but not here.
If I did a side-by-side, it might well come across atop or near the top, I imagine, but i'd still wonder why it didn't grab me right out of the box.

I like the recording of the Houston Chamber Players (Koch, oop) for their beauty in some movements, but perhaps also not enough to make them an over-all favorite.

Come to think of it, perhaps I should make a comparative review again.  :D


Mirror Image

#476
Thanks, Jens. That's pretty much what I figured. A lot of times when you have renown musicians such as the ones on this recording the results aren't always satisfying.

snyprrr

Messe dd Pentecote
Livre d'Orgue


I have just discovered these two works and realize I have unearthed the "greatest", and, it seems, first Darmstadt influenced organ works. Except for Hindemith (who obviously didn't write Avant-Garde), I can't even think of who may even have contributed to the "Modern" organ repertoire. And these two are THE pieces, apparently!

IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THESE? COMMENT?



And then there's the Meditations (1969), which must be considered THE... well, it's written at the height of the decadent '60s,... I'm just saying it does seem to be scary music, making me think of 'Rosemary'sBaby' and 'The Exorcist',... but, of course, not in an obvious way, but in the way the old generation was reacting to the Leftist takeover of society... blah blah...


ANYHOW, Messiaen's organ works of his maturity don't seem to get talked about much.... :(

snyprrr

So far, I've got coming-

Catalogue d'Oiseaux: Roger Muraro (Accord) (simply beautiful piano image and playing!)

Visions de l'Amen: The Labeques (Erato-1969, because everyone said so)

Vingt Regards: Steven Osborne (Hyperion, because eeeveryone said so)


I CAN'T WAIT!! ;)


HAVE YOU HEARD CARL-AXEL DOMINIQUE IN 'Vingt Regards'??? WOW!!

snyprrr

Haitink conducting 'Et Exspecto...' with the CRO (Philips), wow, day and night with Boulez. What a cool sound!


HEY GUYS- if you've soured on Messiaen, come back in 3-4 years and try again, it's working for me!