Olivier Messiaen stands as one of the most unique, extraordinary composers of all time. A deeply religious Catholic mystic, he created his own way of writing music, incorporating everything from ancient Indian rhythms to birdsong to inventing his own way of spelling words in music to devising his own unique harmonies and scales, and more. Nonetheless, he firmly comes from the French Impressionist school, such as Debussy. Consequently, listeners must have aural distance from his music just like a viewer would have physical distance from a Monet painting. Yet, his pieces often have a very specific, frequently deeply theological title. This is the case with both of his selections before and after today’s service from his four-movement work depicting Christ’s ascension into heaven, finished in 1933, called L’Ascension. Today in the church calendar is the Sunday following the ascension of Christ, and so our musical selections throughout the service today draw both from the ascension as well as our celebration of Youth Sunday. Director of Music at Christ Church Cranbrook, Jonathan Ryan, will play the entire L’Ascension in his solo organ recital at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris this summer on Sunday, July 26. You are welcome and invited!
In the piece before the service, a single melody heard at the beginning can be viewed as the song “Alleluia” of the soul longing for heaven, referenced in the title. It’s followed by another, complementary melody. These two songs of “Alleluia” of the soul are heard throughout the piece in a variety of textures that perhaps represent different ways of longing for heaven, ultimately ending in a quiet, joyful ecstasy.
The piece heard after today’s service is among the most extroverted music ever written for the organ. Again, the very specific title should be the focus. Allow the music to fill in the gaps in your imagination. Like the Serene Alleluias, there are two melodies heard at the beginning that alternate. At the end, they are combined to lead to a huge crescendo that gives way to the first melody in almost breakneck speed octaves. The music is deeply powerful and intense throughout – all to convey the uncontrollable excitement of the soul that is with God in heaven!
Want to hear a preview? Click here to listen to Jonathan play “Outbursts of Joy” for organ by Messiaen.