Morlot Conducts Messiaen: A Playlist Exploring Messiaen's Sound World

By Dalanie Harris

French composer Olivier Messiaen’s expansive and curious works have positioned him as one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His musical idiosyncrasies — including sound-color synesthesia, a passion for transcribing bird songs and a reputation for experimenting with unusual instruments (as well as inventing one of his own, the geophone) — set his compositions apart from his contemporaries. As the Seattle Symphony gears up for two stunning performances of his Des canyons aux étoiles... (“From the Canyons to the Stars...”) on June 2 and 4, 2022, listeners can get acquainted with Messiaen’s sound world with a playlist curated by Judith Fong Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot. "This is one of those rare occasions where I’d invite people to prepare themselves by just listening a little bit to how Messiaen’s music was inspired by birdsongs," he said in a Seattle Times interview.   

Oiseaux exotiques (“Exotic birds”) 

Commissioned by acclaimed composer and Messiaen’s former pupil Pierre Boulez, Oiseaux exotiques is an amalgamation of the composer’s various interests. Messiaen often took inspiration from nature in his work — most frequently in the form of birdsong. This piece features birdsong from over 10 different birds native to Asia and the Americas, paired with Hindu and Greek-inspired rhythms. 

Catalogue d’oiseaux (“Catalogue of birds”) 

Equal parts exuberant fervor and tender beauty, Catalogue d’oiseaux demonstrates a range of natural essence of Messiaen’s homeland of France. While each of the 13 pieces in this work for solo piano is named after a type of bird, the music is meant to depict the French provinces in which they live — highlighting the unique qualities of each environment. From towering mountains to bustling forests and vast oceans, the breadth of Messiaen’s musical ideas is on display here. 

Chronochromie (“Time-Color”) 

As an artist enthralled by the beauty of the world around him, sometimes Messiaen’s compositions take a more literal approach to evoking the sounds of nature rather than interpreting it as a straightforward melody. In Chronochromie's penultimate movement, “Epode,” the music may seem a bit disjointed at first, but the lack of uniformity is a rather accurate portrayal of the sounds of birds chirping their individual songs simultaneously — just as you would hear it in the forest. While the sound of dozens of birdsongs rising at once may seem cacophonous, Messiaen’s ability to meld colors with music allows listeners to experience sonic landscapes they won’t hear elsewhere. 

To hear more music from Messiaen, join the Seattle Symphony and Morlot at Benaroya Hall for Des canyons aux étoiles..., inspired by the rock spires, birdsong and night sky of Utah’s national parks: Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and Cedar Breaks National Monument. The concert features luminous videography designed by artist Deborah O'Grady, creating a spectacular and interactive landscape across the concert stage.