If you're just gonna listen to one: O Sacrum Convivium
Background
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, and a mostly self-trained musician. Two things that make Messiaen interesting are his love of birdsong and his appreciation for tuned percussion instruments.
Piano & Organ
- Fantasie Burlesque (Piano)
- Diptyque (Organ)
Orchestral
Messiaen composed a large work called the Truangalîla Symphonie, which is a ten-movement megawork that is much like a piano concerto. When performed, it usually comprises the entire concert schedule, and contains some birdsong elements in the sixth movement.
[NOTE: There will be a preview lecture on Turangalila at the Seattle Public Library on 1/24.]
When Seattle Symphony staff were asked what concerts in the 2012-2013 season they were most excited about, many said they looked forward to Turangalîla, which will be performed at the end of January and beginning of February 2013.
Birdsong examples
Chamber Music
Messiaen's most famous chamber work is called Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the end of time). While he was detained in a German camp during World War II, he found himself in the company of other French musicians (a clarinettist, aviolinist, and a cellist), and they wrote this piece to pass time and help them forget about their horrid conditions.
