Le Verbe

Piece number IV from La Nativité du Seigneur (Neuf Méditations pour orgue) by Olivier Messiaen

"The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son. For out of his heart hath he created me, even before the morning dew. I am an image of his goodness, I am the Word of life, that which was from the beginning." (Psalm 2, 7 / Psalm 109, 3 / Wisdom of Solomon 7, 26 / I John 1, 1)

The perpetual generation of the Word is ineffable. But since we are exhorted to ponder thereon at Christmastide, some commentary is requisite however inadequate it be.

The section consists of two parts. The main theme of the first is a slow descent on the pedal reed stops which reminds one of the terrifying ff of the great trumpets in Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" or of those trombone calls in Wagner. Here one should watch out for the time-added value which hastens the descent and the added point d'orgue which delays it. Alongside the sound of a white, gold-gleaming chord on the dominant can also be heard a rhythmic canon in the third "partially transposable mode" over the antibacchius of the theme.

The second part symbolises the Word. It consists of a long cornet solo which proceeds simultaneously from plainsong sequences in its divisions, from Hindu ragas in its overall character and from the ornate chorales of Bach in the way in which a solemn melody is overlaid with arabesques. At the same time it presents us with a truly original blend of the second "partially transposable mode" with chromatic or tonal harmonies and the seventh Gregorian mode (i.e. the mixolydian).

Translated from German text by Celia Skrine.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Le Verbe
• La Nativité
• Olivier Messiaen
• Organ (music)

[RobCharles1981]

That was very meditative music there Anthony - Lovely thanks for posting! :-)