This is one of those pieces of music where the context of its composition is more well-known than the music itself. That context is where the young Olivier Messiaen, already having achieved some success as composer and organist, was drafted into the French army then captured by the Nazis as they advanced across France in 1940. He was imprisoned for two years at Stalag VIII-A in what is now just over the German border in South West Poland. Amongst his fellow inmates were a violinist, a cellist and a clarinettist. Messiaen was permitted by the guards to play a battered old piano in the camp and this work, composed and premiered in a prisoner of war camp, developed into a quartet.
The fin du temps of the title is not so much a reflection on the horrors of that particular war, but a reference to the actual Apocalypse described by John in the Book of Revelation. Messiaen was a devote Catholic and of the eight sections in the piece, three of them explicitly reference Revelations 10 in their titles: Vocalise for the Angel Who Announces the End of Time; Dance of Frenzy for the Seven Trumpets; and Tumult of Rainbows for the Angel Who Announces the End of Time.
In addition to biblical inspiration, Messiaen also refers to the sound of birds in some of these sections: Abyss of Birds, and the opening movement Liturgy of Crystal where the solo clarinet imitates the song of a blackbird, whilst the violin plays the part of the nightingale. His fascination with birdsong, directly transposing it as well as a source of inspiration for orchestral works further developed after the war and is another of his unique contributions to experimental classical music.
This is a stunning piece of music, and should be considered the chamber equivalent of The Rite Of Spring, in terms of its vivid use of rhythm, and an unusual sound palette that evokes all the senses – Messiaen himself experienced synaesthesia. Section 5, Praise to the Eternity of Jesus, a duet between the cello and piano, is absolutely beautiful.
His Theme and Variations which accompanies the Quartet on this CD is an earlier piece, written in 1932 for his then wife, the violinist and composer Claire Delbos. The piece is both beautifully lyrical and intellectually rigorous, which seems apt for a piece written to celebrate their marriage.
Best Bits: Praise to the Eternity of Jesus
Genre: A Modern Classical Highlight
Like This, Try This: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-10/
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