Visions de l'Amen ("Visions of the Amen") is a suite of seven pieces for two pianos by the French composer Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992), commissioned for the Concerts de la Pléiade[1] that were held during the German occupation of Paris. It was composed in 1943 for the composer and Yvonne Loriod, and its performance requires about 40–45 minutes.
OverviewEdit
According to Messiaen's "author's note" attached to the original score,[2] the work takes its inspiration from a quote of Ernest Hello: "Amen, word of Genesis, which leads to Revelation; Amen, word of Revelation, which is the consummation of Genesis". Messiaen gives four basic interpretations of Amen:[3] "It is done", "So be it, according to thy will", "In the hope, the desire, that I may freely give and freely receive", "It is so, world without end". He describes the music as seven musical visions which reflect the living beings who say "Amen" in gratitude for their existence.
Messiaen explains the different roles of the two piano parts: he assigned the primo part (played by Yvonne Loriod) "rhythmic difficulties, chord clusters, all that has speed, charm, and quality of sound". The secondo part (played by himself) he assigned "the principal melody, thematic elements, all that demands emotion and strength".
One of the principal themes of the work is the Creation theme,[3] appearing in the first movement in the bass in long notes, in the fifth movement in three variations (altered), and finally in the seventh movement, over ten times.
Creation theme
MovementsEdit
There are seven movements:
Amen de la Création ("Amen of creation")
Amen des étoiles, de la planète à l'anneau ("Amen of stars, of the ringed planet")
Amen de l'agonie de Jésus ("Amen of Jesus' agony")
Amen du Désir ("Amen of desire")
Amen des Anges, des Saints, du chant des oiseaux ("Amen of angels, of saints, and of bird chant")
Amen du Jugement ("Amen of judgement")
Amen de la Consommation ("Amen of consummation")
ReferencesEdit
^Liner notes by Nigel Simeone on the recording of Steven Osborne and Martin Roscoe for Hyperion, CDA67366.
^Stephen Schloesser, Visions of Amen: The Early Life and Music of Olivier Messiaen, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, page 353.
^ abJean Wentworth, Review of Records, The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 59, No. 2 (Apr., 1973), pp. 323–328.
October 16, 2023
visions, amen, visions, amen, suite, seven, pieces, pianos, french, composer, olivier, messiaen, 1908, 1992, commissioned, concerts, pléiade, that, were, held, during, german, occupation, paris, composed, 1943, composer, yvonne, loriod, performance, requires, . Visions de l Amen Visions of the Amen is a suite of seven pieces for two pianos by the French composer Olivier Messiaen 1908 1992 commissioned for the Concerts de la Pleiade 1 that were held during the German occupation of Paris It was composed in 1943 for the composer and Yvonne Loriod and its performance requires about 40 45 minutes Overview EditAccording to Messiaen s author s note attached to the original score 2 the work takes its inspiration from a quote of Ernest Hello Amen word of Genesis which leads to Revelation Amen word of Revelation which is the consummation of Genesis Messiaen gives four basic interpretations of Amen 3 It is done So be it according to thy will In the hope the desire that I may freely give and freely receive It is so world without end He describes the music as seven musical visions which reflect the living beings who say Amen in gratitude for their existence Messiaen explains the different roles of the two piano parts he assigned the primo part played by Yvonne Loriod rhythmic difficulties chord clusters all that has speed charm and quality of sound The secondo part played by himself he assigned the principal melody thematic elements all that demands emotion and strength One of the principal themes of the work is the Creation theme 3 appearing in the first movement in the bass in long notes in the fifth movement in three variations altered and finally in the seventh movement over ten times nbsp Creation themeMovements EditThere are seven movements Amen de la Creation Amen of creation Amen des etoiles de la planete a l anneau Amen of stars of the ringed planet Amen de l agonie de Jesus Amen of Jesus agony Amen du Desir Amen of desire Amen des Anges des Saints du chant des oiseaux Amen of angels of saints and of bird chant Amen du Jugement Amen of judgement Amen de la Consommation Amen of consummation References Edit Liner notes by Nigel Simeone on the recording of Steven Osborne and Martin Roscoe for Hyperion CDA67366 Stephen Schloesser Visions of Amen The Early Life and Music of Olivier Messiaen Wm B Eerdmans Publishing page 353 a b Jean Wentworth Review of Records The Musical Quarterly Vol 59 No 2 Apr 1973 pp 323 328 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Visions de l 27Amen amp oldid 1154595661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
