The Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus ("Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus") are a suite of 20 pieces for solo piano by the French composer Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992).
The suite are a meditation on the infancy of Jesus. It was composed from March to September of 1944 following a January commission by Maurice Toesca [fr], wishing for a reading of his twelve poems on the nativity. The abandoned plan was later reworked with a dedication to his protégéeYvonne Loriod. A typical performance lasts about two hours. These '12 regards' appear to be incorporated into the plan of the final work, which may be described as a rondo in which the movements based on the "Theme of God", no.'s 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 19 and 20, frame four three-movement episodes.[1] Although the work was finished shortly after the liberation of Paris in August and excerpts played in public by Messiaen and Loriod, the complete premiere took place 26 March 1945 at the Salle Gaveau with the composer reading aloud his own commentaries.[2]
For example, Messiaen has written that "The 'Theme of Chords' is heard throughout, fragmented, concentrated, surrounded with resonances, combined with itself, modified in both rhythm and register, transformed, transmuted in all sorts of ways: it is a complex of sounds intended for perpetual variation, pre-existing in the abstract like a series, but quite concrete and quite easily recognizable through its colours: a steely grey-blue shot through with red and bright orange, a mauve violet spotted with leather-brown and encircled by bluish-purple."[3]
^ abMessiaen cited (without exact source) in liner notes by Royal S. Brown on the Michel Béroff recording for Connoisseur Society, CS2-2133, released 1976 by EMI Records.
ReferencesEdit
Hill, Peter and Simone, Nigel (2005). Messiaen. New Haven & London: Yale University Press
October 20, 2023
vingt, regards, enfant, jésus, vingt, regards, enfant, jésus, twenty, contemplations, infant, jesus, suite, pieces, solo, piano, french, composer, olivier, messiaen, 1908, 1992, vingt, regards, enfant, jésuspiano, suite, olivier, messiaenenglishtwenty, contemp. The Vingt regards sur l Enfant Jesus Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus are a suite of 20 pieces for solo piano by the French composer Olivier Messiaen 1908 1992 Vingt Regards sur l Enfant JesusPiano suite by Olivier MessiaenEnglishTwenty contemplations on the infant JesusPeriodModernComposed1944DurationAbout two hoursThe suite are a meditation on the infancy of Jesus It was composed from March to September of 1944 following a January commission by Maurice Toesca fr wishing for a reading of his twelve poems on the nativity The abandoned plan was later reworked with a dedication to his protegee Yvonne Loriod A typical performance lasts about two hours These 12 regards appear to be incorporated into the plan of the final work which may be described as a rondo in which the movements based on the Theme of God no s 1 5 6 10 11 15 19 and 20 frame four three movement episodes 1 Although the work was finished shortly after the liberation of Paris in August and excerpts played in public by Messiaen and Loriod the complete premiere took place 26 March 1945 at the Salle Gaveau with the composer reading aloud his own commentaries 2 Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Structure 4 Themes 5 Notes 6 ReferencesName EditHistory EditStructure EditThere are 20 movements Regard du Pere Contemplation of the Father Regard de l etoile Contemplation of the star L echange The exchange Regard de la Vierge Contemplation of the Virgin Regard du Fils sur le Fils Contemplation of the Son upon the Son Par Lui tout a ete fait Through Him everything was made Regard de la Croix Contemplation of the Cross Regard des hauteurs Contemplation of the heights Regard du temps Contemplation of time Regard de l Esprit de joie Contemplation of the joyful Spirit Premiere communion de la Vierge The Virgin s first communion La parole toute puissante The all powerful word Noel Christmas Regard des Anges Contemplation of the Angels Le baiser de l Enfant Jesus The kiss of the Infant Jesus Regard des prophetes des bergers et des Mages Contemplation of the prophets the shepherds and the Magi Regard du silence Contemplation of silence Regard de l Onction terrible Contemplation of the awesome Anointing Je dors mais mon cœur veille I sleep but my heart keeps watch Regard de l Eglise d amour Contemplation of the Church of love Themes Edit nbsp Theme de Dieu nbsp Theme de l etoile et de la croix nbsp Theme d accordsMessiaen uses Themes or leitmotifs recurring elements that represent certain ideas They include Theme de Dieu Theme of God Theme de l amour mystique Theme of Mystical Love Theme de l etoile et de la croix Theme of the Star and of the Cross Theme d accords Theme of Chords 3 For example Messiaen has written that The Theme of Chords is heard throughout fragmented concentrated surrounded with resonances combined with itself modified in both rhythm and register transformed transmuted in all sorts of ways it is a complex of sounds intended for perpetual variation pre existing in the abstract like a series but quite concrete and quite easily recognizable through its colours a steely grey blue shot through with red and bright orange a mauve violet spotted with leather brown and encircled by bluish purple 3 Notes Edit Hill 2005 p 134 Hill 2005 p 144 a b Messiaen cited without exact source in liner notes by Royal S Brown on the Michel Beroff recording for Connoisseur Society CS2 2133 released 1976 by EMI Records References EditHill Peter and Simone Nigel 2005 Messiaen New Haven amp London Yale University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vingt Regards sur l 27enfant Jesus amp oldid 1160923211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
