MESSIAEN Olivier (1908 - 1992) - Lot 130

Lot 130
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MESSIAEN Olivier (1908 - 1992) - Lot 130
MESSIAEN Olivier (1908 - 1992) MUSICAL MANUSCRIT autograph "Olivier Messiaen", Catalogue d'oiseaux pour piano (1959); 277 pages in-fol. plus title pages, in 13 folders under title folder. Complete manuscript of these thirteen pieces for piano, a great masterpiece of piano literature. Composed in 1956-1958, this Catalogue d'oiseaux is a gigantic work made up of thirteen pieces for piano, lasting 155 minutes. After excerpts performed on March 30, 1957 and January 25, 1958, the complete work was premiered on April 15, 1959, in the Salle Gaveau, as part of the Domaine musical, on the occasion of the composer's fiftieth birthday, by its dedicatee, the pianist Yvonne Loriod (and wife of the composer), before a captivated audience. The work was published in seven volumes by Alphonse Leduc, in April 1964. One does not know what to admire most in this gigantic work. In the thirteen pieces, there are seventy-seven birds whose songs are rendered and transcribed on the piano with the astonishing precision of an ornithologist; but it is above all through their musical transfi guration, and the organization of this mass of sound in a colorful polyphony with skilful rhythmic arrangements, that he completely renews piano writing in this Catalogue, which has imposed itself from the outset as one of the monuments of piano music. The manuscript is very carefully noted in black pencil on double sheets of 16-line paper, classified in 13 folders, each with a title page and sometimes the duration of the piece. It was carefully revised by Messiaen in preparation for publication, as indicated by proofreading notes. The manuscript is meticulously annotated, with numerous indications of tempo, dynamics, nuance, the various interventions of birds, sometimes fingerings... The title page bears this subtitle: "Bird songs from the provinces of France. Each soloist is presented in its habitat, surrounded by its landscape and the songs of other birds that inhabit the same region. A text of presentation follows: "The musical writing of the First Catalogue of Birds was begun in October 1956 and finished on September 1, 1958. The journeys and the repeated stays, necessary for the notation of the songs of each bird, were sometimes very former to the composition of the pieces. His indications being very precise, the author was able without difficulty to awaken memories of a few hours or several years ago. The work is dedicated by him twice: to his winged models and to the pianist Yvonne Loriod. Then comes the table of pieces, classified in 9 books (there will be in fact seven: 1st book: I-III, 2nd book: IV, 3rd book: V-VI, 4th book: VII, 5th book: VIII-IX, 6th book: X, 7th book: XI-XIII). Each piece is accompanied by a detailed commentary, of which we will give only a few examples. I. The Alpine Chocard (coracia graculus). "Strophe : the Alps of Dauphiné, the Oisans. Ascent to the Meije and its three glaciers. 1st Verse : near the Chancel refuge : the lake of Puy-Vacher, wonderful mountain landscape, abysses and precipices. A Chocard des Alpes, separated from his troop, crosses the precipice shouting. Silent and majestic flight of the great golden eagle, carried on the air currents. Raucous and ferocious cawing, growling of the great crow, lord of the high mountain. Different cries of the blackbirds and their acrobatic flight (slides, dives, loops) above the abysses. Antistrophe : before Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans, the Clapier Saint-Christophe : chaos of collapsed blocks, Dantesque rocks, accumulated in disorder by the giants of the mountain. 2nd Verse : a Chocard des Alpes goes around the landscape flying over the precipices. Same cries and flights as in the 1st Couplet. Episode : the Écrins : Cirque de Bonne-Pierre, with its immense rocks, aligned like giant ghosts, or like the towers of a supernatural fortress ! Duration: 8'50 (19 p.). II. The Oriole (oriolus oriolus). "End of June. Branderaie de Gardépée (Charente), around 5:30 am - Orgeval, around 6 am. - Maremberts (Loir-et-Cher), in the midday sun. The oriole, the beautiful golden yellow bird with black wings, whistles in the oaks. Its golden song, like a foreign prince's laughter, evokes Africa and Asia, or some unknown planet, filled with light and rainbows, filled with Leonardo da Vinci smiles. In the gardens, in the woods, other birds: the fast and decisive stanza of the Wren, the confident caress of the Robin, the brio of the Blackbird, the amphimacra of the White-fronted and Black-throated Redstart, the incantatory repetitions of the Music thrush. For a long time, without getting tired, the Garden Warblers pour out their soft virtuosity. The Swift Warbler adds its jumping drops. Nonchalant recall, memory of gold and rainbow: the sun seems to be the emissary of the birds.
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