The Life of Messiaen

By: Christopher Dingle

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Paperback | 22 March 2007

At a Glance

Paperback
274 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.59 x 13.97 x 1.47

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Olivier Messiaen stands as one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century and among the foremost religious artists of any era. When he died in 1992, the prevailing image was of a deeply religious man whose only sources of inspiration were God and Nature, and of a composer whose music progressed along an entirely individual path, impervious to contemporaneous events and the whims both of his fellow artists and the critics. The Life of Messiaen paints a more nuanced picture of the man and the musician, peering behind Messiaen's public persona to examine the private difficulties and creative struggles that were the true backdrop to many of his greatest achievements. Based upon the latest research, including previously overlooked sources, this book provides an excellent introduction to Messiaen's life and work, presenting a fascinating new perspective of a man whose story is more remarkable than the myths surrounding it.

Industry Reviews

'The best parts of this absorbing book are those where Dingle relates the music to Messiaen's religious faith and to the many difficulties he faced during his life ... many of the author's judgments on the music itself have made me want to go back and listen to works I know - or thought I knew.' BBC Music Magazine 'Christopher Dingle is a seasoned Messiaen insider with a good feel for narrative pacing, and for how much speculation can be risked alongside authentic documentary material.' Gramophone '... this neatly assembled and marvellously readable volume in the Cambridge Musical lives series. ... surprises with several new investigative strands and more than satisfies with a cogent and entertaining commentary ... a thoroughly researched, beautifully executed display if lightly-handled scholarship that makes one feel simultaneously admiring of such an all too rare facility and thoroughly envious of it.' Classical Music

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Arts & Entertainment Music Individual Composers & Musicians, Specific Bands & Groups Music Styles & Genres Western Classical Music & Opera Medieval & Renaissance Music from 1000 to 1600 Biographies & True Stories Biographies Arts & Entertainment Biographies

List of illustrations	p. viii
Acknowledgements	p. x
Note on the text	p. xii
The burgeoning artist 1908-31	p. 1
Le jeune francais 1931-9	p. 31
Occupying time 1939-45	p. 67
Songs of love and death 1945-8	p. 94
For now we see through a glass darkly 1949-52	p. 114
A natural retreat 1951-9	p. 137
The statue remains on its pedestal 1960-9	p. 156
A Passion for opera 1970-83	p. 188
Tous les oiseaux des etoiles 1984-92	p. 220
Select bibliography	p. 245
Index	p. 251
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

The Life of Messiaen

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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