= Mixed Media
In March we presented
music from Mexico with six different composers representing our southern
neighbor. For our concert on April
23, we will move to France and only one composer and one composition will grace
the stage. Two exciting pianists
Andreas Werz and Hatem Nadim will perform Olivier Messiaen’s masterly Visions
de l’Amen.
Messiaen is without
doubt the most important French composer of the generation after Debussy and
Ravel. He began piano lessons after having already taught himself to play, and
entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1919, at the age of 11.
In 1941 Messiaen was appointed a professor of harmony at the Paris
Conservatoire, where he taught until his retirement in 1978.
He was the mentor of many of the important composers of the post World
War II generation and was instrumental in shaping the direction of musical
composition. Messiaen was a innovative composer with important works in many
genres utilizing a synthesis of the old and the new.
Above all, he was a devout Catholic and most of his music reflects his
almost ecstatic faith.
He composed Visions
de l’Amen
in 1943 for he and his wife Yvonne Loriod to play.
Because of the profound character of this work, Orpheus has placed it in
a setting that will complement its deep nature; in the Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
In Visions de l’Amen the two pianos together become a
percussion orchestra, akin to the gamelans of Indonesia, to which the music
seems to look also in its frequent moments of pentatonic character. Its
principal key, A-Major, was for Messiaen the tonality of luminous blue; of the
sky; of Paradise. In the preface to the score, Messiaen wrote:
"Amen has four different meanings:
Amen, so be it! The
creative act.
Amen, I submit. I accept. Thy will
be done!
Amen, the wish, the desire that this may be, that you would give to me and I to
you!
Amen, that is, that all is forever, consummated in Paradise
Adding to these the life of the creatures who say Amen by the very nature of
their existence, I have tried to express the varied richness of Amen in seven
musical visions.”
I. Amen de la
Création Amen, so be it!
God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” (Genesis)
It begins absolutely pianissimo in the mystery of that primeval nebula that
already contains the potential of light. All
the bells quiver in this light – light and therefore life.
II. Amen des étoiles,
de la planète à l’anneau (Amen of the stars, of the ringed planet)
A savage and brutal dance. The
stars, suns, and Saturn, the planet with its multi-colored ring rotates
violently. God called them and they
said:
“Amen, here we
are!”
III. Amen de l’agonie de Jésus (“Amen of the Agony of Jesus”)
Jesus suffers and weeps, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this
cup pass from me. Nevertheless not
as I will, but Thy will be done, Amen.” (St. Matthew)
IV. Amen du désir (“Amen of Desire”) The
word ‘desire’ must be taken in its highest spiritual sense. It is thus that
the Angel named the prophet Daniel: “Man of Desire”!
V. Amen des anges,
des saints, du chant des oiseaux (“Amen of the angels, of the saints, of bird
song”) Song of the purity
of the saints: Amen, The angels fell before the throne on their faces; Amen.
(Revelations)
VI. Amen du jugement
(“Amen of Judgement”) Three
notes, frozen like the bell of evidence. In
verity, I say to you, Amen. Accursed,
get thee hence! (St Matthew) An
intentionally short and harsh piece.
VII. Amen de la
consommation (“Amen of Consummation”)
Consummation, Paradise. The
life of the bodies in glory, in a carillon of light, “the shining light
that shineth more and more.” (Prophets)
His descriptions give
you some idea of his intentions in composing this masterpiece.
Visions de l'Amen has a hypnotic, trance-like quality that will
draw you into its depths. It will
be an experience that you will not want to miss.
The concert will be
held at
Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (Bullard and Maroa)
8:00 p.m.
on Friday, April 23rd.
