Messiaen : Livre d'orgue

Album review

Following his 2017 Naxos release of Olivier Messiaen's Les Corps glorieux and the Messe de la Pentecôte, Tom Winpenny has recorded the Livre d'orgue (1951), a collection of studies employing Indian rhythms, unusual modes, and birdsongs, which were all part of the composer's stock-in-trade at the time. The opening track, an independent work titled Verset pour la fête de la Dédicace (1960), is a soft and relatively accessible birdsong piece that serves as a suitable introduction to Messiaen's style and methods. Because what follows is considerably more sparse, angular, and fragmentary, the Livre d'orgue may be regarded as a rather cerebral exercise. In spite of such evocative titles as "The Hands of the Abyss" and "The Eyes in the Wheels," there is less of the religious mysticism that otherwise permeates Messiaen's music. One might be tempted to dismiss the Livre d'orgue as an anthology of mid-20th century avant-garde notions, particularly over the use of pointillisme that was common in the international serial style, but considering Messiaen's deep faith and visionary outlook, it's difficult to write off as merely a bag of tricks. The closing pieces, Monodie (1963) and Tristan et Yseult : Thème d'amour (1945), are slight and seem to be included for the sake of completeness, though Winpenny deserves credit for choosing pieces that are well suited to the program as a whole.

Details of original recording : Recorded 19-20 July 2017, Eglise Saint-Martin, Dudelange (Luxembourg)