Olivier Messiaen Improvisations

[@mWahlgren]

"Baptized at Trinity in 1957, I have all the Sundays of my childhood heard Olivier Messiaen improvising at Sunday mass. At the end of the Mass, everyone went out to the pastry (!), But my father forbade us to stand up as the Master had not finished playing. Olivier Messiaen's music has become like a "second language" tome. It's wonderful to see here him here improvise"

[@TheSunship777]

Lucky! I would never want to leave the church building.

[@gardikagigih5704]

what a great story!

[@BodilessVoice]

One of the greatest musicians of our time, deep and ingenious and boundlessly inventive. . .how I envy you for getting to hear him play live every Sunday!

[@MahavishnuProject]

Your father raised you well.

[@EdiDrums]

(The above is the English translation of a comment made by Guillaume Deslandres in 2012, to be found lower down in this comments section. ("Baptisé à La Trinité en 1957, j'ai tous les dimanches de mon enfance entendu Olivier Messiaen improviser à la messe dominicale. A la fin de la messe, tout le monde sortait pour aller à la pâtisserie (!), mais mon père nous interdisait de nous lever tant que le Maître n'avait pas fini de jouer. La musique d'Olivier Messiaen est ainsi devenu comme une 'seconde langue maternelle' pour moi. C'est magnifique de le voir ici improviser." )

[@GuillaumeDeslandres]

Baptisé à La Trinité en 1957, j'ai tous les dimanches de mon enfance entendu Olivier Messiaen improviser à la messe dominicale. A la fin de la messe, tout le monde sortait pour aller à la pâtisserie (!), mais mon père nous interdisait de nous lever tant que le Maître n'avait pas fini de jouer. La musique d'Olivier Messiaen est ainsi devenu comme une "seconde langue maternelle "pour moi. C'est magnifique de le voir ici improviser...

[@lebonmunsterdalsace]

Quelle chance... je n'étais pas né quand il est mort...

[@francoisasselin4183]

Merci pour ce témoignage !

[@elementallobsterx]

What a genius. Sometimes it’s disturbing how some people are so passionately good at arts, it brings you to tears. Watching him is like watching Holdsworth in his old age playing his scales… Messiaen’s modes are extremely fascinating as well.

[@mikeclose1763]

Disturbing..you mean enthralling? AH was a big fan.

[@elementallobsterx]

@@mikeclose1763 it’s hard to really encapsulate what I mean. I just had no other word for the kind of intrigue I feel when seeing skill that immense.

[@urbulibaba]

Imagine just casually walking into a church and there's Messiaen improvising away at his organ!!

[@amenophis_factorem]

One day, people will be writing about Latry, Ospital, Cauchefer-Choplin, Roth, Dubois...to name just a few. It's amazing that we have these recordings, but we should also appreciate the living legends while they're still around!

[@urbulibaba]

@@amenophis_factorem oh of course, I totally agree! I've seen relatively few classical masters, but many jazz legends while they were/are still alive (Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter etc) and I'm very grateful for it!

[@mondeva]

Great!!! We cannot even imagine how good Bach was when improvising at organ, but luckily we have some samples like this one about Messiaen for future generations .

[@PointyTailofSatan]

The Ricercare a 3 from Bach's Musical Offering is supposed to be an almost exact copy of Bach's improvisation on the King's theme, and that Bach performed in front of the King himself.

[@timothytikker1147]

I studied organ with Messiaen's friend Jean Langlais in Paris in 1984, and while I was there I heard Messiaen do similar improvisations a La Trinité church on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning -- very close to the time this video was made.

[@timothytikker1147]

He improvised on this "Puer Natus est Nobis" Gregorian chant theme in the lessons and carols service at 11:00 PM on Christmas Eve that served as the prelude to Christmas Midnight Mass. That improvisation had definite similarities to the "Puer Natus" movement of his composition _Livre du Saint Sacrement_, which he was writing at that time.

[@charleskennedy1099]

I notice that in the second movement of this improvisation, he makes use of a particular chord progression (heard on the Voix Humaine) that also appears in "Les Mages" from La Nativité du Seigneur.

[@charlesleyes870]

Lucky you. How wonderful.

[@dr.brianjudedelimaphd743]

Timothy Tikker you have been touched by the hands of God

[@robcmstephens]

That is seriously cool! French 20thC for me has got to be the most creative and special period - varied, but all linked together by (in my opinion) a 'Frenchness'​- hard to define, but very special. Messiaen and Langlais !

[@Bati_]

Whenever I hear Messiaen's music, I remember this quote by Albert Einstein: "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”

[@jimtownsend8010]

I never understood this in previous years,,, and that was with over 15 years of playing Messiaen's piano works under my belt. Then I recently had a dream. I dreamt that I was hired by an imaginary church in Paris, and to reach the organ, you had to climb story after story of stairs, and there on the top was the organ bench. The sense of height was terrifying. Then in the dream I was hired by a local Methodist WV church, but still the organ seemed so high and so lofty. Oh, you dropped an atomic bomb? Still, you dont know the power of having a large church's organ at your fingertips. Height and the sense of height were major themes. And now after this dream I feel this in the music. A sense of aliveness, a sense of height. The feeling you get just when your car starts to veer of the road, or right when your swivel back chair starts to lean backward. A sense of aliveness. Amazing music from one of the worlds greatest musicians. I hope to have another dream just like that tonight...

[@hexagonalawareness3584]

Did you?

[@jimtownsend8010]

@@hexagonalawareness3584 No, But ive had like 3 offers to play at various local churches! While im busy at the moment, I hope to land one soon!

[@hexagonalawareness3584]

​@@jimtownsend8010 Well, I'll continue to have the good dreams for you; I have crazy dreams. When you play at the church, remember to not screw up.

[@BentonHess]

For many years my mother was Minister of Music at St. Paul’s Methodist in Parkersburg, WV; we moved out of that city in 1962. In 1970 I met Olivier Messiaen in Boston, so there’s an awful lot in this comment that resonates with me.

[@BioHeinrich]

One of the best music videos on KZbin!

[@noiselesspatient]

And all based on pre-existing plainchant melodies, and consequently the texts, feast days and theology that goes with them. The implications of this are significant.

[@sicartista8486]

Hmmm....the 20th century maestro, alone on his organ console. Pure happiness, to play the organ in a dark, empty church, with nobody listening. Just you..and the instrument. Splendid composer. Thanks for uploading.

[@baldrbraa]

Weightlessness in harmony and timelessness in rhythm. To Messiaen these were positive qualities. Spirit and eternity.

[@Bati_]

Did he state this? Where can I find the source?

[@baldrbraa]

@@Bati_ I’m just summing up what seems to me elements of his philosophy. He uses symmetry of intervals when building up harmony, more so than tonal tension. He uses symmetrical rhythmic structures, serial structures, and extremes of tempo to suspend the sense of forward-moving time.

[@Bati_]

@@baldrbraa Thank you for the clarification. I should read more about Messiaen!

[@luizamsalgado]

A Real Treasure ! Great Messiaen gifting us us with his wonderful music recorded superbly. Many thanks for the this wonder! @mWahlgren coment here is superb and a precious contribuition for your wonderful post ! ❤❤❤

[@MahlayStudios]

9:31 Those flourishing passages just send shivers down my spine.. The genius of Messiaen is inestimable..

[@oscargill423]

Ah yes, the chromatic scale. Genius. To be fair, it is very effectively used.

[@ericnk58]

Incredible and so filled with power and feeling. It is music that speaks directly to the soul.

[@1401JSC]

+Eric Koenig How do you know that? How does one know how a soul functions?

[@ericnk58]

+1401JSC I did not say I knew. What may be truth to me may not be to you. Taste is 100% subjective. Have a good day!

[@watermelon520b]

+1401JSC Because it changes it.

[@leoflanagan6606]

I think therefore I am, body and soul

[@WelshHomo87]

Eric Koenig I agree. God runs through all of Messiaen's music. I love all his music

[@robertowarren7007]

This man and his work mean so much to me...omg ❤

[@organ444]

Messaien's words translated: 'Then to the shepherds in the fields appeared a hoard of angels singing "Glory to God in the highest!" ... The Wise Men saw the Star of Christ in the Orient and journeyed toward Nazareth. ... And the Wise Men offered gifts to Mary and the baby Jesus: Gold for a king, incense for a god and myrrh for a mortal man.'

[@williamlewis4318]

Thank you! I speak French, but not so much I know that!

[@markjosephlandingin7274]

Matthew Breen

[@organ444]

@@williamlewis4318 no problem. I won't for a moment pretend to be fluent, I had to rewind the video a couple of times until I caught every word!

[@BenjaminMari-s1z]

6:30

[@christianblaha36]

Gregorian chant forms the base of his inspiration in improvisation.

[@BodilessVoice]

Yes. His knowledge of music history and composition was encyclopedic!

[@seanmoliver]

Messiaen's music - especially his organ work - brings me to tears every time.

[@alterI4]

This guy is really good. I always picture modern composers not being so good at Playing actual instruments like the greats did, but this guy is really improving some intricate stuff. Fascinating how his brain processes music. Its like he knows exactly where he wants his dissonances and where to put them, like writing chromaticism in real time which seems impossible to me without rehearsal.

[@kempedkemp]

He has been playing with these themes and sounds for years. Believe me when I tell you, there were thousands of hours of rehearsal and tweaking!

[@yoga.ma.genova8591]

“This guy is good“ - you sound like someone who had never heard of Messiaen till now.

[@Nooticus]

This is unbelievable. Its like I'm in a different world. How have I never seen this video before.

[@tous7798]

Grand dieu, du Messiaen tout craché. Magnifique ! Je ne sais pas combien il y a d'heures d'improvisations enregistrées, mais il serait bon de les publier largement

[@ThomasMurphy55]

I am going to see the great Jean-Yves Thibaudet accompany the Seattle Symphony playing Messiaen's great Turangalila Symphony tonight! I'm pretty thrilled: not only is Thibaudet a terrific musician (I strongly suggest that you check out his interpretation of Debussy's Images for piano), but he is considered an especially fine interpreter of the works of Messiaen, as well. T. has recorded the Symphony under the tutelage of the great Yvonne Moriot, Messiaen's wife.

[@BodilessVoice]

Lucky you!

[@moitu3137]

So beautiful place music singing wonderful thank you so much ❤👍❤❤❤❤🌹🌹

[@Alix777.]

11:43 what an heavenly music...

[@foodiste]

Clearly, his belief was his muse. Its what inspired his music.

[@mikhailnohr]

Olivier was pure Christian, pure genius, pure Musician & pure great Composer! Requestat in pacem, dear Olivier. I really love you organ music... You show us all the Power of Greatest God Father & His Son & Holy Spirit! And this... uncredible Thank you! Greatest...

[@sealevelbear]

This is why I am alive, thank you!

[@rikwensink3526]

Breathtaking to watch and listen to this. Definitely one of the most valuable music posting on KZbin.

[@ulfingvar1]

That has GOT to be the most perfect musical instrument of them all: the BIG church organ. In one body it carries all the power and "umfang" of the full orchestra, the rock band and the full choir. And with some almost electronic tonalities to complete it.

[@josephhutchison1983]

Totally agree! The organ is the ultimate!

[@josephhutchison1983]

Amen to that!

[@maestrodanielepasini]

Messiaen è uno dei più grandi musicisti della storia della musica

[@columbamccann5367]

Sincerity foremost, as he says in his commentories. No empty display here. Extraordinary thematic concision especially in the middle movement.

[@cdssmac]

Olivier Messiaen-the Chuck Norris of the organ! He absolutely blows me away and is my all-time favourite composer.

[@charlesleyes870]

An unusual comparison, I must say.

[@m139139]

"Dieu Parmi Nous" is my favorite Messiaen piece.

[@Y0PPS]

BLOWN away by the organ?? Aren't we all.

[@andrewlarson603]

I consider Tournemire and Messiaen to be the TWO GREATEST COMPOSERS who ever lived!!!!

[@Dovith]

😂🤣😂🤣please excuse my dirty mind but I can see some funny double meaning 😂🤣🤣

[@firesong75]

I never understood Messiaen until I heard and played the organ at La Trinité. The sonorities and true Adagio were enhanced by that acoustic. I can just imagine him at night trying out the sounds he had written, experimenting with what sounded good and what did not. My teacher, Mildred Andrews, insisted I memorize some of the larger works which I did as a good student, but I never imagined the sounds Messiaen heard. I have a much better appreciation of his music now than I ever did as a student.

[@philippecirse4872]

Perfect songs to read the subjective forms of the clouds and to follow with a tender eye the grooves of the stems of the trees; appreciate the complex writing of the nested branches, taste the colors of the decomposition of light into water droplets in a garden, and strongly feel the wet soil of ancestral forest to perceive the traces of animals from deep past

[@AllAmericanFE]

I just can't get enough of this video. It's rare to find a good video of my favorite Organ composer.

[@kyotokid4]

...Messiaen is truth in music In`the summer of 1992 I had st up a meeting with M. Messiaen. Before my trip he passed on. That day my boss gave me the the day off (with pay) because she knew how much that meeting with him meant to me.

[@BodilessVoice]

May God bless your boss!

[@m139139]

I love to listen to Messiaen's music- It's innovative and NOT DERIVATIVE!

[@sssnacksss]

awesome to see OM ripping up on the organ at Holy Trinity. killer dude on an amazing instrument. got chills at 17:03. this and recordings of Jung speaking get me amped that i can go straight to the source when i want my fill of european visionary maniacs from the 20th ce

[@RattaRoller]

Olivier Messiaen was a great organ composer. I see power, in his pieces. I like La Résurrection du Christ, and Transports de joie d'une âme devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne.

[@BodilessVoice]

His "Quartet for the End of Time" is required listening.

[@russedav5]

It would be a real blessing if those who know French might be willing to translate Messiaen's comments for those of us who don't. Thanks.

[@Anorectic.Bumblebee]

yes!

[@DH-cv8bo]

0:19 : The shepherds in the fields watch a group of angels appear singing: “Gloria in Excelcis Deo”. 7:29 : and the wise men had seen the star announcing Christ in the Orient, and had set out towards Nazareth. 15:27 : and the wise men presented gifts to Mary and the infant Jesu: gold for the king, incense for God, and myrrh for the mortal man.

[@MrJazzharmonie1]

Merveilleux chrétien , habité par l'Esprit Saint ...les tres nombreuses images de tuyaux en dehors d'être esthétiques ne nous disent peu ...alors que son visage ses mains ses pieds ...parlent et nous enseignent ....et quand il parle ce qu'il dit est ressenti .

[@Musique3579]

What a absolutely sensational video. Thrilling!

[@gwalaus]

I sang in a choir at a Mass which Messiaen attended in the late 1980s in Melbourne, Australia. I don't believe he was quite as impressed as I am with this!

[@karlisaacjohnson5986]

I can definitely see many many things which became Livre du Sant-Sacrement in this improvisation.

[@swirls999]

A genuine genius at work! This is astonishing!

[@GerrlichStudios]

His music brings us to places beyond our poor imagination.

[@BodilessVoice]

Yes

[@Deelystaniel]

This is beyond awesome. I was only recently turned on to Messiaen. Better late than never.

[@jorgeisaacgonzalezprieto6590]

Exelente material, gracias por compartir.

[@simonbarrowuk]

Absolutely remarkable and inspiring to watch and to listen to.

[@Raed911]

I'm a rookie listener/fan of classical music (avant-garde and chamber music specifically), yet happy that I'm learning to appreciate such emotional moments and awes upon listening. That's why in my humble opinion, one should appreciate the genius of the likes of Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Gentle Giant...etc. whose anti-generic music leads a rock n' roll connoisseur into this land of charm and horizon width. Thanks for such a great upload.

[@jonkrueger9067]

+Zeppelin911 Great music can be found in all genres.

[@bernab]

Frank Zappa had more difficult time with Messiaen but at the end he appreciated it and he even said he was one of his favorite composers. King Crimson, I think through Stravinsky and Bartok had a little bit of Messiaen, namely the mode 1 and 2, and I think also through the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[@richardwilliamjohnson8566]

Jon Krueger *most (imo)

[@royverges5925]

If you're going to mention Progressive Rock in the context of Messaien, then by all means listen to Henry Cow.

[@luismigueltolda3571]

Beautiful

[@michaelschantz6708]

Messiaen's own "Modes of Limited Transposition" are prominently featured in the Finale of this work. A genius with his own personal language.

[@gla950]

Olivier Messiaen en chair et en os, avec sa voix... Je n'aurais pas rêvé mieux :')

[@charlesleyes870]

Messiaen was for years at L'eglise Trinite. It fascinates me that during those years so many major organists were full time at some church with a fine organ: St. Clotilde, St. Eustache, St. Sulpice, La Madeleine, Notre Dame (of course), St. Augustin, okay, where else? Help me. Ahh, St. Etienne du Mont. What a great time to be in Paris for organ lovers.

[@BodilessVoice]

Fuck me. That is awesome.

[@charlesleyes870]

@@BodilessVoice Not a response I was expecting.

[@charlesleyes870]

@@BodilessVoice There might be a better way to say that.

[@BodilessVoice]

@@charlesleyes870 Without a doubt

[@juanmaMCMLXXXII]

Este vídeo es una de las cosas por las que merece la pena tener internet.

La grande école Française d'improvisation!

[@dagostinoification]

Un pur génie Monsieur Olivier Messiaen !Fantastique improvisation !

[@MrJazzharmonie1]

Merci au Maître de la musique ...merci la France pour donner de tels talents au monde

[@davidmcmurray9933]

He composed remarkable piano and orchestra works, too.

[@charlesdavis7087]

Messiaen is a thaumaturgist of sound. His "music" intensionally transcend the earthly gravity of words. Silence now speaks. CVD

[@MegaCirse]

Really I adore, I add : All great ideas inspired, music, films, philosophy, inventions, revelations all come from the collective unconscious. Very often artists use the inspiration from outside, deductive logic, the extrapolation of evidence and reasoning known to unveil the sumptuous and magnificent righteousness of a sound architecture such as this one. It is a truth that is spontaneously revealed to us or that with time we have to verify by ourselves in order to know if such and such a composer can change our minds and our existences.......... Thanks for reading me !

[@BodilessVoice]

Correct

[@BodilessVoice]

Yea, and Amén.

[@StephenAR]

@@MegaCirse That is the heart of it! Yet how few interface let alone connect with the collective unconscious to become conduits for its transcendental expression! Here’s a tough question - why do any at all become such conduits and how? Forgive my stumbling tongue - it’s hard to speak precisely about such things and avoid sounding like some new age mystic 😆👍

[@GerrlichStudios]

His tone language is suposed to be unique. Every chord, every phrase we was playing infects our imagination.

[@katharinetaylor6988]

It's refreshing to see a true improvisation without a battalion of registrants to help out!!

[@katharinetaylor6988]

This amazing!

[@joelane6006]

Heck, even God told me He likes to listen to Messiaen!

[@RoboticsBay]

He knew like no other organist to use constantly his instrument at full power.

[@TheMysticalOrgan]

It's still quite a lot and growing fast. What's really sad is that Messiaen's friend and mentor Tournemire is so neglected. I've uploaded ALL of L'Orgue Mystique and, four months on, it's still barely got 10,000 views across the whole thing...

[@kimweonill]

Thank you for sharing history.

[@roberthoffhines5419]

Some don't get Messiaen, and I can understand them. But it's a shame as the are missing some of the most jaw-dropping powerful and then the most tender music ever dreamed. All suffused with the light of The Spirit.

[@jodikirsh]

I'm not Christian, but Messiaen always makes me wish I was.

[@geneosis]

i have the same feeling...

[@wolfgangsomary3009]

Poetry beyond words, paintings in tone colours, breath of life.

[@elementallobsterx]

10:30 WHAT is this? I’ve never heard anything like this in my life.

[@andrewlarson603]

Too see Messiaen speaking and improvising!!! I consider him along with Charles Tournemire to be the two GREATEST composers who ever lived!!!’

[@originaltommy]

And Vierne!!!

[@chubbtm5]

I've hear nuch of your L'orgue Mystique and I am grateful for your efforts.

[@violinchicklet]

How utterly superb! A true genius.

[@Bati_]

One man orchestra.

[@alexisdanielvaneskeheian2127]

¡Maravilloso! Muchas gracias.

[@bubffm]

What a find. Many thanks!

[@johnstag1391]

Revisited with pleasure.

[@charlesleyes870]

I thought this tape was for a single improvisation, but now see there is a second one following which I like even more than the first.

[@7OrionBelt7]

His thoughtful use of the timbres or tonal pallette of the instrment is impressive!! He definitely knows the instrument!! Beyond that he is a philosopher as one may hear. Just masterful!!

[@oonabenally1447]

This section at 11:40 is so beautiful.

[@michaelsearle1458]

great!! Thanks.

[@DavidEzequielPerez]

Thanks dude!

[@ThomasMurphy55]

AND...for those of you who, like me, are great fans of French pipe organ music, I urge you to listen to Francis Poulenc's Organ Concerto...you'll experience heaven on earth.

[@HxhXnin9e]

Messiaen's wonderful!

[@DRORELIMELECH120V]

MAGNIFICENT

[@kyotokid4]

...such incredible colour and light.

[@mikeinkc]

makes me improvise more than ever..after death he still inspires us!!

[@OrganoJeffersonRibeiro]

Maravilhoso, libertador, inspirador, colorido, vivo.

[@yunikhaean7317]

Waouh... Merci.

[@gjmhjm1]

Superbe!

[@meinnameistdreck3145]

It's nice to be able to see and hear composers of this magnitude performing their own works.

[@markbra]

I am definitely not ready for this !

[@EinSofVirtuoso]

When I hear Messiaen, I feel the frightening yet awesome power of the Lord. Sure one can analyze his works musicologically in terms of timbres, atonality, and etc. But this is music of the unexpected, profound not in the sense of Arvo Part or Rachmaninov but as a simulacrum of the divine through sound in its terrifying (perhaps to ears insensitive to serialism and modern classical music) glory.

[@renoiswellmetis5629]

+EinSofVirtuoso Please don't diminish Messiaen's music with you supertitions. Yes, his music is powerful, but it's just that. Just because he was religious, doesn't make his music religious. There is no such thing as religious music. Enjoy the music for what it is, not for what it is represented to be.

[@EinSofVirtuoso]

+Renois Wellmetis Are you serious? I can see your point with this improvisation but with respect to many of his works, especially his Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, his explanations and interpretation of the pieces say otherwise. To reduce his music as just "powerful" makes him no better than Xenakis, Boulez, and Stockhausen (who also became quite the mystic himself after encountering Sri Aurobindo in the 70s). I'll enjoy the music represented by the composer himself and not taken out of its context.

[@renoiswellmetis5629]

+Ethan Pearson Indeed there is no secular music. These categorizations are part of humans trying to justify why they create art. Which of course is not bad in itself. Every human being needs a justification in order to do something. Art, when created, is a means to an end rather than an end itself. But the end result is always the same. Music is sound. Nothing more. Take Varese for example. His music is not written in order to praise God as was the case in Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism, nor in order to to praise himself as was the case in Romanticism. It is then written for its own sake. Sounds themselves exist and interact with each, they come and go in time. In the end all I'm saying is, art and music especially seem to have such an important impact on us because it imitates nature. In other words, it exists for itself. It has got rid from its back the burden of meaning. Like nature. Nature is meaningless. That's why we find it beautiful. Those 2 things offer us a moment where we can get out of our ego and experience reality for what it is, not for what we wish it to be. In the end though, there is no right or wrong way to listen to music. As there is no wrong way at looking at a tree. But maybe we should strive at looking at the tree for what it is, not what it represents. Cheers

[@EinSofVirtuoso]

+Renois Wellmetis To that end it appears 4'33" is the most profound piece ever composed.

[@renoiswellmetis5629]

+EinSofVirtuoso YES!!! The example of 4'33'' certainly aims at that! Whether it's the most profound way of expressing this notion, of course is a matter of personal opinion. I believe though that Cage would have responded to your statement with something like: But I didn't compose it. It has always been there all along! Since you mention Cage, he also uses justification to create art. His justification is non-intention. Which of course is intentional itself. That is the paradox with Cage's music that makes his philosophy so beautiful. He seeks self-abolishment from the process of composition but fails because art is creation. Art cannot exist without its creator. No matter what the intention. Isn't it a lovely contradiction? Have you listened to Morton Feldman? If you haven't, please do, especially his later music. He seeks the same end with Cage with the difference that he hasn't given up control to the process completely. He floats somewhere in between!

[@maxcohen13]

Brilliant.

[@christianukr]

je suis tres content d'avoir trouve cet enregistrement (tres rare) voir messiaen a l'impro c'est quelle chose ...(merci symbol kid >)

[@consternation6]

A real Vooddo Child at the keys there, out-Phibing Dr Phibes. Terrific!

[@consternation6]

sorry - Voodoo Child, I meant

[@MegaCirse]

It is true that its music can seem gloomy, especially for the bigots and "frogs of clams" but it keeps a majestic and sacred character !!.......................................... ;-)

[@stephenmcmullen7600]

The first time I ever heard Messiaen was in 1975 in a concert at Christ Church Cathedral in St Louis. That put the hook into me.

[@meinkomponist2103]

It's like hearing Bach playing his organ

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

MeinKomponist Bach would shit his pants listening to this.

[@wids]

Could you show me something that discusses this? Not disagreeing just curious.

[@Ogugua-k1w]

20th century composers < master race Classical composers < peasants

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

quality test two very different ways of playing the instrument. Bach captured all that was possible to capture with the tools he had. He brought together all of the best techniques and ideals of his tradition together and breathed fresh life into them. The word of god as he could best express. Messiaen looked far ahead, trying to capture all that was impossible. Intoxicated by the lush overtone implications of Debussy, he sought sounds that our temperament systems could not do proper justice. He looked to deal with chaos and complexity and find meaning within a world torn by war and nihilism. Both did what needed to be done and both had ideas that are necessary for our future. But messiaens are closer to our time. Bachs time is very far in the past. music is a mirror reflecting ourselves, our deepest reality. take care to observe what you see in your reflection.

[@michaelm5926]

Bachs music will be heard and played in thousands of years again and again. These french, cacophonic style of shitting music out of decadent assholes will die very soon. Play shit like Messiaen in an organ concert and most of the people will leave the church… believe me :-) I've seen it even in big cathedral concerts… Messiaen is an arrogant dilettante. He confounds spiritualism with smoking in an opium cavern…."Musicians" who studied with Messiaen will truly get out even the last catholics of their church by playing and improvising like their "master". You just have to look in parish churches during usual sunday masses ;-)

[@Sathrandur]

Second part sounds (perhaps not at all surprisingly) very similar to the end of 'Puer Nobis' from his Livre du Saint-Sacrament (compare with the Jennifer Bate recording done on this same organ). But the improvisation is much easier on my ears than his composed works.

[@Aynomeds]

Incredible footage... weird and beautiful!!