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La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ

March 20, 2024

La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ ("The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ") is a work written between 1965 and 1969[1] by Olivier Messiaen. It is based on the account found in the synoptic gospels of Jesus' transfiguration. The writing is on a very large scale; the work requires around 200 performers. The forces required include a mixed choir, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra; only being surpassed by his opera Saint François d'Assise.

Background edit

On hearing "an old priest deliver a sermon on the light and the filiation",[2] Messiaen started to think about the transfiguration story in the 1940s. By the time he began to write the music, he had not composed music for voices for 17 years, since his solo choral work Cinq rechants. Warmer tonal harmonies reappeared in this work, in contrast to the harmonies he had been using for other works of the period.

Messiaen makes extensive use of birdsong throughout the piece, including the songs of the greater honeyguide, Alpine chough, accentor, superb starling, Baltimore oriole, rock thrush, blue mockingbird and peregrine falcon.[3]

Performance history edit

The first public performance was on June 7, 1969, in Lisbon, Serge Baudo was the conductor. The United States premiere was on March 27–30, 1972 in Washington, DC with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Westminster Choir; Antal Dorati was the conductor. It was recorded the following month with Dorati conducting the same forces for Decca Records.[4]

The US West Coast premiere[5][6] was in 1981 in San Francisco, with the Berkeley Symphony and the Contra Costa Chorale under the direction of Kent Nagano. Preparation for this performance was supervised by Messiaen himself.

Structure edit

The music is divided into 14 movements, grouped into two septénaires (sets of seven), for about one and a half hours. The texts are largely derived from the Bible, particularly Matthew's account of the Transfiguration. Also included are some parts of Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica.

First Septenary

  • I. Récit évangélique (Gospel)
  • II. Configuratum corpori claritatis suae (To be like his glorified body)
  • III. Christus Jesus, splendor Patris (Jesus, reflection of the Father)
  • IV. Récit évangélique (Gospel)
  • V. Quam dilecta tabernacula tua (How lovely are your tabernacles)
  • VI. Candor est lucis aeternae (She is the reflection of eternal light)
  • VII. Choral de la sainte montagne (Chorale of the holy mountain)

Second Septenary

  • VIII. Récit évangélique (Gospel)
  • IX. Perfecte conscius perfectae generationis (Perfectly conscious of that perfect generation)
  • X. Adoptionem filiorum perfectam (The perfect adoption of sons)
  • XI. Récit évangélique (Gospel)
  • XII. Terribilis est locus iste (How awesome is this place)
  • XIII. Tota Trinitas apparuit (The whole Trinity appeared)
  • XIV. Choral de la lumière de gloire (Chorale of the light of glory)

Instrumentation edit

It is scored for a mixed choir (10 voices per part), 7 instrumental soloists and a very large orchestra.[7]

Bibliography edit

  • Dingle, Christopher (2007). The Life of Messiaen. Cambridge & New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-63547-0.
  • Dingle, Christopher, & Nigel Simeone (eds) (2007). Olivier Messiaen: Music, Art and Literature. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN 0-7546-5297-1.
  • Samuel, Claude (tr. E. Thomas Glasow) (1994). Olivier Messiaen: Music and Color: Conversations with Claude Samuel. Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. ISBN 0-931340-67-5.
  • Sherlaw Johnson, Robert (1975). Messiaen. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-02812-0.

References edit

  1. ^ Maas, p.37 (et seq)
  2. ^ Olivier Messiaen: Music and Color: Conversations with Claude Samuel, Eng Trans., Portland, Oregon, 1994
  3. ^ Notes by Messiaen to original Dorati recording (re-released on Decca 425 616-2
  4. ^ Liner notes to Decca CD 425 616-2
  5. ^ . Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
  6. ^ Reviewed in SF Examiner May 29, 1981 p. 54
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  • Deutsche Grammophon La Transfiguration CD Booklet[clarification needed]
  • About the Music/Programme Notes—Olivier Messiaen (1908–92)—La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ (1965–9), notes for Prom 14, BBC Proms 2008, 2008-07-27, Julian Anderson. Retrieved 2008-07-28. Archived 2013-04-19 at archive.today
  • Maas, Sander van. (2009). The Reinvention of Religious Music. Fordham University Press. OCLC 273818716.

March 20, 2024
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La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ is a work written between 1965 and 1969 1 by Olivier Messiaen It is based on the account found in the synoptic gospels of Jesus transfiguration The writing is on a very large scale the work requires around 200 performers The forces required include a mixed choir seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra only being surpassed by his opera Saint Francois d Assise Contents 1 Background 2 Performance history 3 Structure 4 Instrumentation 5 Bibliography 6 ReferencesBackground editOn hearing an old priest deliver a sermon on the light and the filiation 2 Messiaen started to think about the transfiguration story in the 1940s By the time he began to write the music he had not composed music for voices for 17 years since his solo choral work Cinq rechants Warmer tonal harmonies reappeared in this work in contrast to the harmonies he had been using for other works of the period Messiaen makes extensive use of birdsong throughout the piece including the songs of the greater honeyguide Alpine chough accentor superb starling Baltimore oriole rock thrush blue mockingbird and peregrine falcon 3 Performance history editThe first public performance was on June 7 1969 in Lisbon Serge Baudo was the conductor The United States premiere was on March 27 30 1972 in Washington DC with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Westminster Choir Antal Dorati was the conductor It was recorded the following month with Dorati conducting the same forces for Decca Records 4 The US West Coast premiere 5 6 was in 1981 in San Francisco with the Berkeley Symphony and the Contra Costa Chorale under the direction of Kent Nagano Preparation for this performance was supervised by Messiaen himself Structure editThe music is divided into 14 movements grouped into two septenaires sets of seven for about one and a half hours The texts are largely derived from the Bible particularly Matthew s account of the Transfiguration Also included are some parts of Thomas Aquinas s Summa Theologica First Septenary I Recit evangelique Gospel II Configuratum corpori claritatis suae To be like his glorified body III Christus Jesus splendor Patris Jesus reflection of the Father IV Recit evangelique Gospel V Quam dilecta tabernacula tua How lovely are your tabernacles VI Candor est lucis aeternae She is the reflection of eternal light VII Choral de la sainte montagne Chorale of the holy mountain Second Septenary VIII Recit evangelique Gospel IX Perfecte conscius perfectae generationis Perfectly conscious of that perfect generation X Adoptionem filiorum perfectam The perfect adoption of sons XI Recit evangelique Gospel XII Terribilis est locus iste How awesome is this place XIII Tota Trinitas apparuit The whole Trinity appeared XIV Choral de la lumiere de gloire Chorale of the light of glory Instrumentation editIt is scored for a mixed choir 10 voices per part 7 instrumental soloists and a very large orchestra 7 Woodwind 2 piccolos 3 flutes 3 oboes cor anglais piccolo clarinet in E flat 3 clarinets bass clarinet 3 bassoons contrabassoon Brass 6 horns piccolo trumpet in D 3 trumpets in C 3 trombones bass trombone tuba saxhorn contrabass tuba Soloists flute solo clarinet solo xylorimba vibraphone marimba cello solo piano solo Choir 20 sopranos 10 mezzos 20 contraltos 20 tenors 10 baritones 20 basses Strings 32 violins 14 violas 12 cellos 10 double basses Percussion I triangle bells guiro 3 small Turkish cymbals suspended cymbal clash cymbals II crotales claves wood block 6 temple blocks 1 pair of maracas luminophone clash cymbals III tubular bells IV 7 gongs V 3 tam tams VI suspended cymbal 3 toms bass drumBibliography editDingle Christopher 2007 The Life of Messiaen Cambridge amp New York Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 63547 0 Dingle Christopher amp Nigel Simeone eds 2007 Olivier Messiaen Music Art and Literature Aldershot Ashgate ISBN 0 7546 5297 1 Samuel Claude tr E Thomas Glasow 1994 Olivier Messiaen Music and Color Conversations with Claude Samuel Portland Oregon Amadeus Press ISBN 0 931340 67 5 Sherlaw Johnson Robert 1975 Messiaen Berkeley and Los Angeles University of California Press ISBN 0 520 02812 0 References edit Maas p 37 et seq Olivier Messiaen Music and Color Conversations with Claude Samuel Eng Trans Portland Oregon 1994 Notes by Messiaen to original Dorati recording re released on Decca 425 616 2 Liner notes to Decca CD 425 616 2 Our History Berkeley Symphony Archived from the original on 2012 12 15 Retrieved 2012 11 24 Reviewed in SF Examiner May 29 1981 p 54 The Olivier Messiaen Page Archived from the original on 2008 12 25 Retrieved 2007 08 02 Deutsche Grammophon La Transfiguration CD Booklet clarification needed About the Music Programme Notes Olivier Messiaen 1908 92 La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ 1965 9 notes for Prom 14 BBC Proms 2008 2008 07 27 Julian Anderson Retrieved 2008 07 28 Archived 2013 04 19 at archive today Maas Sander van 2009 The Reinvention of Religious Music Fordham University Press OCLC 273818716 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ amp oldid 1154589812, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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