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Olivier Messiaen

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Composer

The Resume

    (December 10, 1908-April 28, 1992)
    Born in Avignon, France
    Composer and organist
    Organist for the Eglise de la Sainte-Trinite in Paris (1931-92)
    Professor of composition at the Paris Conservatory (1966-78)
    Many compositions based on modes of limited transposition
    Composed the opera 'St. Francis of Assisi' (1983) and the choral works 'Three Small Liturgies of the Divine Presence' (1944) and 'The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ' (1969)
    Other works include 'Eight Preludes for Piano' (1929), 'The Ascension: Four Melodic Variations' (1933), 'The Beautiful Waters' (1937), 'Quartet for the End of Time' (1940), 'Exotic Birds' (1956), 'Catalogue of the Birds' (1958), 'Time-Color- (1960), 'From the Canyons to the Stars' (1974), and 'Quadruple Concerto' (1992)

Why he might be annoying:

    He had three middle names (Eugene, Prosper, and Charles).
    His second wife was one of his students and fifteen years his junior.
    He preferred to call 'St. Francis of Assisi' a 'spectacle' rather than an opera.
    Pianist Sviatoslav Richter wrote, 'The works of his I've heard often start magnificently, but their initial promise is never realized and you get these sugar-water climaxes that I can't stand.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He entered the Paris Conservatory at age eleven and went on to win first prizes in piano (1925), fugue (1926), organ (1929), and composition (1930).
    While a POW for nine months during World War II, he composed 'Quartet for the End of Time' for the four instruments available in the prison -- piano, violin, cello, and clarinet -- and gave the debut performance with three other POWs for an audience of prisoners and guards.
    He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor (1987).
    He was influenced by Igor Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring,' Hindu temple rhythms, Javanese gamelan music, and birdsongs.
    He said, 'I give bird songs to those who dwell in cities and have never heard them, make rhythms for those who know only military marches or jazz, and paint colors for those who see none.'
    Fans of his outside of classical music include Bjork and Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead.

Credit: C. Fishel


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    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying