Olivier Messiaen - Texts, Contexts, and Intertexts (1937-1948) (Hardcover)

The 20th century French composer Olivier Messiaen was a devout Roman Catholic and notably claimed that his music was an expression of his faith. Unsurprisingly, many performers and listeners consider Messiaen's strong religiosity central to their appreciation of the composer's music. Music scholars have devoted much energy to exploring how Messiaen's music was an extension of his religious beliefs. Yet, these works tend to discuss Messiaen's Catholicism solely in terms of personal religious identity and ignore the composer's broader connections to the cultural landscape of Roman Catholicism in France. In Olivier Messiaen: Texts, Contexts, and Intertexts (1937-1948) the late French literature scholar Richard Burton examines nine of Messiaen's works in the context of the broader French Catholic intellectual tradition. Drawing on an expansive knowledge of the Catholic literature and the surrealist tradition, Burton reveals that Messiaen's middle-period compositions are filled with intertextual references to the Bible and other theological writings, which Messiaen, given his reputation for falsifying facts, may have gone to great lengths to obscure. As a Catholic, Messiaen is presented as somewhat removed from the ethos of his time and place, taking no part in the social side of Catholicism that found expression in the Petainist litany of 'Patrie, Famille, Travail'. Rather, Messiaen regarded himself as having a 'vertical' relationship with God, which could make him seem unworldly and even uncaring. With insights into the artistic careers of Messiaen's notable contemporaries and historical perspectives on the breakdown of French politics during World War II, Burton creates a vivid picture of the previously unexamined spiritual and philosophical inspirations behind Messiaen's pivotal mid-century compositions.

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	September 2016
Authors:	Richard D.E. Burton (Professor of French and Francophone Studies)
Editors:	Roger Nichols
Dimensions:	242 x 163 x 27mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Cloth over boards
Pages:	264
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-027794-9
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > Music > Western music, periods & styles > 20th century music Books > Language & Literature > Literature: history & criticism > Literary studies > From 1900 Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church > General Books > Music > Western music, periods & styles > 20th century music Books > Christianity > Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church Promotions
LSN:	0-19-027794-7
Barcode:	9780190277949

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