Monodie

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Monodie
by Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen (1986).jpg
Olivier Messiaen in 1986
CatalogueA.44
Composed1963 (1963): Paris
Performed19 May 1998 (1998-05-19): London
Published1997 (1997): Paris
ScoringOrgan

Monodie ( French for 'Monody'), written in 1963, is a brief composition for organ by French composer Olivier Messiaen. It is his shortest stand-alone published work.

Contents

Background

The Monodie was composed in 1963 at the request of Jean Bonfils, who was Messiaen's assistant at the church of the Sainte Trinité, Paris, where he was the main organist. Its holograph manuscript states it was written 'for harmonium'.

It was written for Bonfils' and Noémie Pierrot's organ method book, Nouvelle méthode de clavier. Messiaen presumably did not have his own organ at La Trinité because of a major refurbishment, therefore being relegated to the choir organ. [1] It was then published as a part of that book in 1963 by the Schola Cantorum. Musicologist Nigel Simeone alleges that Messiaen could have composed the Monodie as a part of a sight-reading examination at the Schola Cantorum. [2]

The piece was later republished posthumously by Éditions Alphonse Leduc in 1997, as most other short works that were lost, forgotten, or never intended for publication. [1] It was formally premièred on May 19, 1998, at Westminster Cathedral, in London, with Gillian Weir at the organ, although this was certainly not the first time it was ever played. [3]

Structure

According to its score, the Monodie has a total duration of 6 minutes and a total of 17 bars of variable length. However, if the length and tempo are strictly followed, it would last under three minutes.

As was customary in many works by Messiaen, the piece bears neither time nor key signature. It starts with a single staff (as opposed to a three-staff system, which is typical of organ works). Messiaen used the tempo marking "Très modéré". The stop configuration used in the piece is stable throughout: Flute 8 (or Quintaton 16), Cor de Nuit 8, Nazard 2+2⁄3, and Octavin 2. The piece features multiple triplets, quintuplets and sextuplets. [4]

Its fingering is completely indicated.

Recordings

Following is a list of some notable recordings:

OrganRecord companyYear of recordingFormat
Olivier Latry Deutsche Grammophon2002CD [5]
Gillian Weir Priory Records2004CD [6]

References

  1. 1 2 Dingle, Christopher (5 July 2017). Messiaen's Final Works. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-351-55843-3 . Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  2. ↑ Simeone, Nigel (1998). Olivier Messiaen: A Bibliographical Catalogue of Messiaen's Works : First Editions and First Performances, with Illustrations of the Title Pages, Programmes, and Documents (in French). H. Schneider. ISBN   978-3-7952-0947-6 . Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  3. ↑ Benitez, Vincent (13 November 2007). Olivier Messiaen: A Research and Information Guide. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-135-87130-7 . Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  4. ↑ Messiaen, Olivier (1997). Monodie: pour orgue. Paris: Alphonse Leduc & Cie. ISMN  9790046291463. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "MESSIAEN Complete Organ Works Latry". www.deutschegrammophon.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Messiaen - The Complete Organ Works - Vols 5 & 6 - Organ of Arhus Cathedral, Denmark (2 CD set) | Britain's Premier Church Music Label". www.prioryrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
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