Messiaen - Oraison arranged for string quartet

Olivier Messiaen was one of the most extraordinary composers of the 20th century. He never composed for string quartet, but his Quartet for the End of Time belongs to the absolute summit of the chamber music genre.
Written in 1940 as a prisoner of war, both the music itself and the story of its conception and premiere helped turn it into an instant classic. The fifth movement "Louange à l’éternité de Jésus" actually is a transcription of music Messiaen composed three years before, titled "Oraison". This original version, for four Ondes Martenots (bit.ly/2OWqDJa), inspired us to re-imagine the piece as a string quartet: a constellation which is able to infuse the electronically sustained sound of the Ondes Martenots with the breathing voice of acoustic instruments.
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[@andrewsachs4776]

I've been listening to all different interpretations of Oraison since I found it a few months ago, I'm so happy I finally found a string quartet arrangement. Thank you for the lovely performance!

[@DudokQuartet]

Glad you like it! 🙏

[@QuireofCheahs]

WOW. This luminous and magnificent performance utterly took my breath away. I LOVE the transcription/(transposition) and LOVE the nuances and colors all of you imbue to this piece. You’ve captured the otherworldliness of the ondes martenot while giving it the terrestrial “breath”, as you so eloquently put it, of your acoustic instruments. I love how the accompanying trio is constantly changing its sound like a kaleidoscope to suit the moment: at times evoking a viol consort, at times an organ, a hurdy gurdy, and yes, a string quartet. Just brilliant! This arrangement also captures the spirit of both Louanges from the Quatour while maintaining the character of the original Fête. Kudos also to the added visual impact of the 1st violin’s red outfit against the monochromatic accompaniment. Bravi, bravi, bravi!

[@DudokQuartet]

Thank you so much! Who knows: we might start transcribing the other movements of the Fête as well!

[@d3a1990]

Stunning and colorful!

[@PWBrunt]

Waanzinnig, zo mooi deze versie met liggende akkoorden en jullie fantastische ( bewuste) gebruik van vibrato!

[@Octovisuals]

Cool! You could do the first theme we hear while exploring the mansion in Resident Evil (1996), "The Nightmare Begins" or something like that is called, the one with the violins, or violas or I don't know... But it would be just too epic and I would appreciate it immensely forever... There's just not a single cover of that anywhere! Thank you.

[@dschkn]

Great! Could you please tell where to find score of it to buy? The Internet is literally empty 😭

[@DudokQuartet]

We got a score of the original via Messiaen's publisher Alphonse Leduc Editions Musicales (part of Wise Music Classical) and made the transcription. We have permission to perform and record our transcription but not to publish the arrangement... wisemusicclassical.com/work/51940/Fete-des-belles-eaux--Olivier-Messiaen/

[@shirishmalhotra]

Beautiful! Is the arrangement available to buy?

[@DudokQuartet]

We received permission from the Fondation Messiaen for performing this arrangement, but can’t sell it as the rights are with [edit] publisher Wise Music Classical. Our version doesn’t differ much from the originals however, and scores of both Fête des belles eaux and the Quartet are available via their webshop!

[@chronochromie772]

@@DudokQuartet How did you contact the Fondation Messiaen? I can't find an email for them anywhere.

[@DudokQuartet]

Messiaen's publisher Editions Alphonse Leduc (now part of Wise Music Classical) was the intermediary, we were not in direct contact with them!