Oraison

Oraison, composed by Olivier Messiaen in 1937 for six Ondes Martenot, transcribed for Buchla 200e synthesizer and Haken Continuum Fingerboard controller and performed by Richard Lainhart in 2009.

From the time I first touched the Haken Continuum, I'd wanted to use it to play a composition by Olivier Messiaen called "Oraison". I first heard "Oraison" years ago as a student of electronic music, and had fallen in love with its simple, beautiful harmonies and profound sense of mystery.

"Oraison" is not only a lovely piece of music, but has historical interest too - it may be the first piece of purely electronic music written expressly for live performance. Also of note is that Messiaen re-arranged "Oraison" for cello and piano and used it for the fifth movement of "Quartet for the End of Time", which he composed in a German prisoner-of-war camp in 1941; the "Quartet" is one of the great classics of 20th-century music.

"Oraison" ("prayer") is from a suite of pieces for six Ondes Martenot called "Fete des Belles Eaux" ("Celebration of the Beautiful Waters"), composed for the Paris International Exposition in 1937. The Ondes Martenot was among the first electronic instruments, and is still among the most expressive. The Continuum's own expressive qualities seemed at least the equal of the Ondes Martenot's, while allowing for polyphony and the possibility of performance of the work by a single player. I transcribed "Oraison" for my Buchla 200e/Continuum system, programmed the modern system in homage to the sound of the Ondes Martenot, and now offer this performance to you.

• Category

  Music

[Ryan Gaston]

Using the continuum for this is a really brilliant idea. Also, as others have said, the dynamics are excellent. Incredibly tasteful arrangement-great job.

If I'm not mistaken, C. S. Levine himself commented below with praise. Apparently you're on the right track. A+.

[rlainhart]

Thank you!

[Duncan Taylor]

The single most beautiful recording of Messiaen I have heard. Deft use of dynamics and timing that I found is often lacking from recordings of Louamge and Oraison. Only an expressionistic musician could understand.

[rlainhart]

Thank you!

[Todd Lainhart]

Any chance of releasing a high-fidelity audio recording of this?

[rlainhart]

I'm working on it. I'll send you one in the meantime.

[Zsolt Sőrés]

R.I.P. Richard Lainhart (February 14, 1953 - December 30, 2011)

[YuckTV]

Wonderful video! Easily one of the top 200e performances, but I'm guessing you would make a CZ-101 sing beautifully as well.

[Brendan Byrne]

I performed with Richard in 2010 and heard this song for the first. I was utterly devastated. I'd never been so affected by a piece of music in my life. There was just something so unsettling about the piece's sadness, wonder, and prescience. In my daily life I'll remember this song and have to stop. Nothing else I've encountered has allowed me to empathize so viscerally with the past.

[genxtargetmarket]

He's sorely missed. Not only a fine artist, but a sharing and knowledgeable gentleman. He definitely helped to send me down my path to the 200e and answered many of my questions with care and great thought.

Too hear another & completely different take on the 200e, click up on the "200e song" by Hyperguy61 that is currently in the list to the right. Great percussion.

[ia1lieutenant]

spacey and dreamy - Messiaen was years ahead - Rest In Peace Mr.Lainhart and thank you.

[Lemure333]

amazing job on programming and performing... rest in peace Richard... you inspired many of us

[JohnLRice]

Beautiful! Rest in peace Richard, you will be missed! :-(

[Iddybud]

Lovely!

[Georgios Zaimis]

Magnificent!

[Richard Strunk]

Thank you so much for this performance and realization. Profound and Lovely.

[Richard Strunk]

Thank you so much for this performance and realization. Profound and Lovely.