Olivier Messiaen

Around 1960 Olivier Messiaen began a large-scale concerto based on the birds of the Hérault region ('Oiseaux de l'Hérault') for piano various soloists and orchestra. Although the project remained unfinished the solo piano part was quite developed. The Olivier Messiaen Foundation entrusted Roger Muraro a renowned interpreter of Messiaen's piano works with organizing the sketches and manuscripts found in the composer's archives. This new publication emerged from Muraro's research. The study that opens the volume describes his methods in detail discussing among other issues the relationship of this work to the later Sept Haïkaï. Richly illustrated with a number of facsimiles musical examples and photographs Muraro's introduction retraces the origins and historic context of the work invites the reader to enter the composer's workshop and offers suggestions for performance. Fauvettes de l'Hérault ' Concert des garrigues for solo piano is a 'concerto without orchestra' that blends reference to Claude Debussy a thinly veiled homage to Yvonne Loriod new birdsong from the Hérault region and the vast palette of rhythm timbre and colour that are typical of Olivier Messiaen's musical universe. Around 1960 Olivier Messiaen began a large-scale concerto based on the birds of the Hérault region ('Oiseaux de l'Hérault') for piano various soloists and orchestra. Although the project remained unfinished the solo piano part was quite developed. The Olivier Messiaen Foundation entrusted Roger Muraro a renowned interpreter of Messiaen's piano works with organizing the sketches and manuscripts found in the composer's archives. This new publication emerged from Muraro's research. The study that opens the volume describes his methods in detail discussing among other issues the relationship of this work to the later Sept Haïkaï. Richly illustrated with a number of facsimiles musical examples and photographs Muraro's introduction retraces the origins and historic context of the work invites the reader to enter the composer's workshop and offers suggestions for performance. Fauvettes de l'Hérault ' Concert des garrigues for solo piano is a 'concerto without orchestra' that blends reference to Claude Debussy a thinly veiled homage to Yvonne Loriod new birdsong from the Hérault region and the vast palette of rhythm timbre and colour that are typical of Olivier Messiaen's musical universe.

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is known for his unique composition style. Incorporating complex rhythms harmony and melodies Harawi is no exception to the composer's popular distinctive style. Published in 1948 Harawi for Soprano and Piano accompaniment is a song cycle in the style of love songs of Andean music. The cycle explores themes of life and death and have significant meaning to Messiaen whose first wife Claire Delbos had begun to suffer from mental illness in the years preceding the composition. Harawi is made up of twelve movements and a typical performance lasts aroundfifty minutes. This edition of the popular Messiaen work is clear and well-presented. Harawi is essential to all advanced Sopranos seeking to expand and vary their repertoire.