For the End of Time: The Story of the Messiaen Quartet
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.16 (716 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0801472970 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 224 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-11-14 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Composed while Messiaen (1908–1992) was imprisoned by the Nazis in Stalag VIII A, the work was performed under the most trying of circumstances: the temperature, inferior instruments, and the general conditions of life in a POW camp.Based on testimonies by the musicians and their families, witnesses to the premiere, former prisoners, and on documents from Stalag VIII A, For the End of Time examines the events that led to the Quartet's composition, the composer's interpretive preferences, and the musicians' problems in execution and how they affected the
Rischin tracked down the elderly Pasquier and violinist Jean La Boulaire (who lived his postwar life as an actor) and also talked to Messiaen's widow and Akoka's surviving family. Ohio University music professor Rischin has gone to heroic lengths to separate the facts from the legends that have grown up about it. Pictures not seen by PW. Some of these legends, as she demonstrates, were encouraged by the composer himself, who would tell interviewers the whole work was composed at Stalag VIIIA in Silesia, that its form was dictated by the instrumentalists available there (piano
Read it if you are up or if you are down I happen to love Messiaen's music so this book -the story of his strength, creativity and perseverance under the most trying circumstances is truly inspirational. I highly recommend the book and the music to everyone, especially for those who for a variety of reasons have to overcome difficulties. It's sheer jubilation of the human spiritEva Foreman. "Essential "biography" of the Messiaen quartet" according to A curious reader. Rischin's book is not mainly a musical analysis of Messiaen's masterpiece and was not intended to be one. As other reviewers here have pointed out, there are excellent books devoted to that subject.Her study instead is a "biography" of the quartet and the musicians who made it happen, not just Messiaen himself, but the other three original performers as well. All four were remarkable people and survived a horrible. Those who want to read it will not be disappointed. DuoPianist If you know of Messiaen's Quartet and want to know more, this is your book. It's not a book for everyone. Those who want to read it will not be disappointed.