Table of Contents

Contents: Editors' note; Introduction; 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: 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 D.J. Shenton; L'Âme 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 music of Olivier Messiaen and the Catholic liturgy, Père Jean-Rodolphe Kars; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author

Christopher Dingle is Assistant Course Director at the Birmingham Conservatoire, UK. Nigel Simeone is Professor of Historical Musicology in the Music Department at the University of Sheffield, UK. Stephen Broad; Edward Forman; Caroline Potter; Matthew Schellhorn; Jacques Tchamkerten; Peter Hill; Allen Forte; Robert Fallon; Jean Boivin; Gareth Healey; Andrew D.J. Shenton; Cecile Sauvage; Philip Weller; Olivier Messiaen; Nigel Simeone; Christopher Dingle; Pere Jean-Rodolphe Kars.

Reviews

'An extremely valuable collection of essays on the life and works of Olivier Messiaen. This book should be of tremendous usefulness to Messiaen scholars worldwide.' Rebecca Rischin, Ohio University, USA ’ For quality and depth of scholarship, I cannot speak too highly of it ... an altogether impressive volume.’ (Five star rating) BBC Music Magazine ’The book has been expertly put together... Together all these chapters make a vital contribution to Messiaen research.’ The Tablet ’...offers a fresh look at specific, and perhaps downplayed, aspects of Messiaen’s work...these essays look at some of the influences most essential for a complete understanding of Messiaen’s music. Recommended.’ Choice ’Anyone approaching the great French innovator for the first time will need to read Olivier Messiaen: Music, Art and Literature.’ Times Literary Supplement ’Cette publication marque une étape importante dans la littérature consacrée à Olivier Messiaen en venant combler des lacunes dans la connaissance d’un certain nombre d’épisodes de sa carrière... Dans sa diversité, cet ouvrage constitue une pierre d’angle dans une musicologie messiaenienne en pleine évolution.’ Revue de Musicologie ’... Olivier Messaien...is commendable for bringing to light a wealth of primary sources, some of which will surely provide useful avenues for those who endeavor to reach out for even more enlightened understanding of the man apart, his music, and his time.’ Journal of the American Musicological Society