(2/2) Messiaen: Vingt Regards - VI. Par Lui tout a été fait - Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Olivier Messiaen
(1908-1992)
Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus
VI. Par Lui tout a été fait
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano

[@MartynaKulakowska]

this movement is crazy :)

[@erikfreitas7093]

1:46-3:18 - EPIC

[@MartynaKulakowska]

indeed!

[@jdbrown371]

Thanks to this video I just bought Aimard's recording of 20 Regards (used) on amazon. So sad it is out of print!

[@jjinterzone]

@MaestroTJS I think you're missing the point somewhat... by the symmetrical design of the first part of this movement, I think Messiaen is expressing his belief of God's incredibly complex and beautiful design. The second half develops the theme of God by stating it amongst chaotic clusters of chords, only to have it triumphant by the end of the piece. But yes, as coasterman16 says, there are plenty of other movements worth listening to, perhaps try the whole set.

[@docsketchy]

I think that Aimard takes the "creation chant" part too slowly -- the part that starts at 3:18 in the video. This piece is much more convincing when that part is played with just a bit more urgency.

[@docsketchy]

@John Kimble It's not a "think that" scenario, more of a "feel that" thing. It's not a huge complaint. I do feel that he does an admirable job of shaping this section -- something that Steven Osborne somehow completely fails to do, to the extent of actually losing the plot a little bit during his live performance at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland (as if he was half-sleeping through this entire section, and then woke up only to find that he didn't really know where he was in the piece). Messiaen put those accents in there for a very very good reason -- without them this part of the piece is just a mush of chords. In any case, I feel that if Aimard took this section just a tiny bit more urgently, then the rallentando from 4:47 to 4:53 could be more extreme, and would have that much more impact setting up the "plus lent" theme of chords which follows, which should really be emphatic (much more so, I think, than Aimard plays it) to set up a strong contrast with the soft, static repetition of 31 chords which follows. In other words, this section could have a lot more drama. It does represent, after all, the creation of the freakin' universe! I hope that answers your question.

[@philipfletcher6481]

In your opinion !?

[@docsketchy]

@@philipfletcher6481 Obviously, and always.

[@lightning9494]

jubilous and god-like

[@mortdk]

X-factor - someone ... ;-)

[@stapler942]

I am always torn by this movement. I love a lot of the Vingt Regards but to me this always feels like the point where the set becomes somewhat meandering. The fugue is interesting to analyse but quite dense - especially the retrograde section, which without looking at the score really does come across as a lot of noise even to the trained listener. The reprise of the theme from movement 1 in the second half gets a little bit banal and repetitive after a while - I think it's more effectively used in other movements like No. 5 and No. 11.

[@stapler942]

Years later I have re-evaluated this particular piece and it's become one of my white whales in terms of stuff I want to learn and play well. So much information to retain.

[@MaestroTJS]

Unbelievably irritating. Only the first movement (so far as I've heard) comes close to expressing God in music. This sounds like the spawn of the devil. More like, "par lui tout a ete detruit."

[@Tribullet1]

Maestro_T almost as if that were the point of the catholic liturgy

[@danal81]

It’s modern and highly abstract expression. That follows the rules of tradition in music structure. You need to be used to this type of a musical language of the 20th century to appreciate its greatness.

[@MaestroTJS]

@@danal81 Yeah, I'm used to it and I still think it's crap, thanks.

[@danal81]

Maestro_T well that says something about your intelligence lol. Because this music is a work of a genius, and as such very, very far from “crap”. The fact you say that only shows how little your brain is capable of processing and comprehending.

[@danal81]

I mean, clearly, you can say that the music is not your style, you can say his musical personality doesn’t resonate with you, etc, but to call it “crap” is just an expression of arrogance mixed with pure stupidity.