Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen (December 10, 1908 – April 27, 1992) was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex (he was interested in rhythms from ancient Greek and from Hindu sources); harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations.
Many of his compositions depict what he termed "the marvellous aspects of the faith", and drew on his deeply held Roman Catholicism.
He travelled widely and wrote works inspired by diverse influences such as Japanese music, the landscape of Bryce Canyon in Utah and the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He said he perceived colours when he heard certain musical chords, particularly those built from his modes (a phenomenon known as synaesthesia); combinations of these colours, he said, were important in his compositional process.
Compositions by Olivier Messiaen appear on
North of the Yarra - Organs of Melbourne
Composer
Gordon Atkinson plays 7 of Melbourne's finest organs, including the giant organ in the Melbourne Town Hall, the organs of St. Patrick's Cathedral, The Scots' Church, St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Mary's Star of the Sea church, West Melbourne.
Preludes and Sonata of Messiaen and Shostakovich
Composer
Michael Kieran Harvey, piano. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) and Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) were two of the greatest composers of the twentieth century. Both were remarkable in that they discovered their own unique and distinctive creative voice when they were in their teens.
Catalogue d'oiseaux (Catalogue of birds)
Composer
Each of the 13 pieces in the Catalogue d'oiseaux explores the calls and environment of a single bird species. Virtuoso pianist Michael Kieran Harvey's dazzling pianistic pyrotechnics are displayed to the full in this amazing live performance recorded in Hobart in April 2005.
The Star of the Sea
Composer
A superb programme of Italian and French organ favourites designed to exploit all the resources of this justly famous Grandfather Fincham organ in St. Mary's Star-of-the-Sea, West Melbourne.
Mistika
Composer
Composer and keyboardist Linda Ceff presents an album of past and present inspirations juxtaposed against her own fascinating contemporary compositions.
