La Nativité du Seigneur
Encyclopedia
La Nativité du Seigneur (The Nativity of the Lord or The Birth of the Saviour) is a work for organ, written by the French composer Olivier Messiaen
in 1935.
La Nativité du Seigneur is a testament to Messiaen's Christian faith, being divided into nine "meditations" inspired by the birth of Jesus. In volume one, Messiaen outlines his inspirations, both theological, instrumental and compositional. As the composer notes in his preface, he sought "The emotion and sincerity first". The work was written by the composer at the age of 27 years during the summer of 1935 while the composer was in residence at Grenoble
near the French Alps
. The composer wrote that in addition to theology, the movements were inspired by the mountains, as well as the stained glass
windows in medieval cathedrals.
The work was premiered on 27th February 1936 on the organ of La Trinité, Paris, shared among three players: Daniel-Lesur
(1-3), Jean Langlais
(4-6), Jean-Jacques Grunenwald
(7-9).
The work is one of the earliest to feature elements that were to become key to Messiaen's later compositions, such as the extensive use of the composer's own modes of limited transposition
, as well as influence from birdsong, and the meters and rhythms of Ancient Greek
and traditional Indian music.
Richard Franko Goldman
wrote in 1967 that "One is, indeed, tempted to say that the work is a masterpiece, and one of the great organ works of all time. It is certainly monumental and impressive, original and memorable, with or without the theoretical and mystical explanation the composer himself gives out."
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
in 1935.
La Nativité du Seigneur is a testament to Messiaen's Christian faith, being divided into nine "meditations" inspired by the birth of Jesus. In volume one, Messiaen outlines his inspirations, both theological, instrumental and compositional. As the composer notes in his preface, he sought "The emotion and sincerity first". The work was written by the composer at the age of 27 years during the summer of 1935 while the composer was in residence at Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
near the French Alps
French Alps
The French Alps are those portions of the Alps mountain range which stand within France, located in the Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions....
. The composer wrote that in addition to theology, the movements were inspired by the mountains, as well as the stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows in medieval cathedrals.
The work was premiered on 27th February 1936 on the organ of La Trinité, Paris, shared among three players: Daniel-Lesur
Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur
Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur, known often simply as Daniel-Lesur was a French organist and composer. His mother, Alice Lesur, was an accomplished composer in her own right; some of her music was even published....
(1-3), Jean Langlais
Jean Langlais
Jean Langlais was a French composer of modern classical music, organist, and improviser.- Biography :Jean Langlais was born in La Fontenelle , a small village near Mont St Michel, France...
(4-6), Jean-Jacques Grunenwald
Jean-Jacques Grunenwald
Jean-Jacques Grunenwald , was a French organist, composer, architect, and pedagogue.-Life and work:Jean-Jacques Grunenwald was born in 1911 in Cran-Gevrier, Haute-Savoie. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he received first prizes in organ and composition...
(7-9).
Movements
The work is in nine movements, each depicting an image or concept from the birth of Jesus. In publication, the work is divided over four books.- La vierge et l'enfant (The Virgin and Child)
- Les bergers (The Shepherds)
- Desseins éternels (Eternal designs)
- Le verbe (The Word)
- Les enfants de Dieu (The Children of God)
- Les anges (The Angels)
- Jésus accepte la souffrance (Jesus accepts suffering)
- Les mages (The Magi)
- Dieu parmi nous (God Among Us)
The work is one of the earliest to feature elements that were to become key to Messiaen's later compositions, such as the extensive use of the composer's own modes of limited transposition
Modes of limited transposition
Modes of limited transposition are musical modes or scales that fulfill specific criteria relating to their symmetry and the repetition of their interval groups...
, as well as influence from birdsong, and the meters and rhythms of Ancient Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
and traditional Indian music.
Richard Franko Goldman
Richard Franko Goldman
Richard Franko Goldman was a conductor, educator, author, music critic, and composer.After graduating from Townsend Harris High School in Queens, New York he attended Columbia University, graduating in 1930 with an A.B. . He then went to Paris to study composition with Nadia Boulanger...
wrote in 1967 that "One is, indeed, tempted to say that the work is a masterpiece, and one of the great organ works of all time. It is certainly monumental and impressive, original and memorable, with or without the theoretical and mystical explanation the composer himself gives out."