Messiaen: Catalogue d'Oiseaux, Books 1-3

1. Catalogue d'oiseaux (in 7 books), for piano, I/42 Book I
Composed by Olivier Messiaen
with Peter [piano] Hill

2. Catalogue d'oiseaux (in 7 books), for piano, I/42 Book II
Composed by Olivier Messiaen
with Peter [piano] Hill

3. Catalogue d'oiseaux (in 7 books), for piano, I/42 Book III
Composed by Olivier Messiaen
with Peter [piano] Hill

Messiaen: Catalogue d'Oiseaux, Books 1-3,Olivier Messiaen,Peter Hill [piano],Unicorn,Classical,Classical Music,Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.,Keyboard

Average customer rating: Potently evocative piano music

Olivier Messiaen: Catalogue d'Oiseaux, Books 1-3 Manufacturer: Unicorn ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Messiaen | Messiaen, Olivier | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000001PCL Release Date: 1993-12-07

Tracks:

1. I. Le Chocard Des Alpes
2. II. Le Loriot
3. III. Le Merle Bleu
4. IV. Le Traquet Stapazin
5. V. La Chouette Hulotte
6. VI. L'Alouette Lulu

Customer Reviews:

Potently evocative piano music.......2002-02-25

The seven "books" of Olivier Messiaen's enormous "Catalogue d'oiseaux (Catalogue of Birds)" were composed between 1956 and 1958. In all, they encompass two and a half hours of some of the most beautifully evocative music for solo piano ever penned. Peter Hill's epic survey of the complete piano music of Olivier Messiaen splits this particular cycle over three volumes, with the first three books being presented here.

Peter Hill worked closely with the composer during his preparation for these recordings, made in 1986. His performances were enthusiastically endorsed by Olivier Messiaen himself, so that one can regard this series as being as close to a definitive set as it is possible to achieve. Certainly, the performer's sympathetic treatment of these works, combining pianistic precision with an exquisite deftness of touch — as well as the discs' stunning recording quality — makes it unlikely that they can ever be bettered. These discs also include the composer's own detailed programme notes for each of the movements, together with a highly informed and informative essay on the works, written by recording producer, Anthony Pople, making this a truly indispensable series of releases indeed.

The "Catalogue d'oiseaux" as a whole provides a wonderfully atmospheric depiction of various wild parts of France, through highly virtuosic presentations of sequences of transcribed bird-song, painstakingly notated by the composer on countless field-trips throughout his life. What comes across to the (non-ornithological) listener first and foremost, though, is the intense musicality — and colourfulness — of the resulting opus. These are true studies — and celebrations — of beauty. It is also music of the utmost joy and peacefulness, reminding us that as well as his love of the natural world (most especially its birds) Olivier Messiaen also held deep religious convictions. Here is beauty tempered by spirituality, resulting in the most moving and touching of musical works.

Book 1 of the cycle presents us with three sparkling vistas. 'Le Chocard des Alpes (The Alpine Chough)' is set in the Alps of Dauphiny, with its rugged mountain and glacial scenery. Here the piano relays the raucous calls of Choughs and Ravens together with evocations of sights such as the majestic, silent soaring of the Golden Eagle. By contrast, 'Le Loriot (The Golden Oriole)' delights in the early morning June sunshine flashing off the bright plumage of the birds of the lower Loire valley, and echoing the glittering songs of the woodland songbirds, in particular, the almost magical exotic voice and plumage of the Golden Oriole. (The essentially virtuosic — and somewhat romantic — nature of this particular scene may have something to do with the title's punning reference to the composer's second wife, pianist Yvonne Loriod.) The book closes with 'Le Merle bleu (The Blue Rock Thrush)', which is set on the Vermilion Coast, also in June. The intense blue sheen of the Mediterranean finds a reflection in the plumage of the Blue Rock Thrush, singing amongst the rocky clefts of the awesome cliffs, amidst the crashing of the waves, beautifully represented in the crashing chordal clusters amongst the sparkling trills.

Book 2 presents but a single location. Once again, we are in the region of Roussillon and the Vermilion Coast in June. This time, though, we are treated to a 15-minute encapsulation of the passing day, from the rising of the red-gold orb of the sun from the depths of the sea at 5am, through to the fall of night, some 17 hours later. As ever, Olivier Messiaen's unerring ability to conjure colours from his harmonic structures transports the listener effortlessly to the scene. Close your eyes and you can all but feel the developing heat of mid-morning, as the light grows in intensity. The cooler evening and the approach of night brings a welcome breeze from the distant sea, together with the remote calls of the gulls.

The final book on this disc presents us with two views of the night. 'La Chouette Hulotte (The Tawny Owl)', with its mysterious and eerie calling, evokes the terrors of the unknown that lurk within the darkness, whilst 'L'Alouette Lulu (The Woodlark)' demonstrates a calmer, more relaxing side to the night. The rippling calls of Woodlark and Nightingale augment, rather than spoil, the peace and tranquillity of the darkness amidst the Grand Bois in the mountains of the Forez. The final quiet notes die away into the silence of midnight... I swear I can even smell the pine resin!

All in all, this is a disc of music to listen to with the lights down low, and the eyes closed, to let it work its magical evocations to the full. Above all else, though, it is truly music to treasure, presented here in one of the very best versions imaginable. Unreservedly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Piano Music Messiaen , Janacek , Prokofiev , and Von Eckardstein Manufacturer: MD&G Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00007FP6N Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

1. No. 7 Out Of Catalogue D'oiseaux /1 Musique Des Etangs /2 /3 /4 /5 /6 /7 /8 Solennite De La Nuit /9
2. Die Ahnung
3. Der Tod
4. Andante Dolce - Allegro Moderato
5. Andante Sognando
6. Vivace - Allegro Ben Marcato - Andantino - Vivace

Average customer rating:

Messiaen: Catalogue D'Oiseaux Books 1-3 / Peter Hill Manufacturer: Regis Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000AMKA5 Release Date: 2003-07-09

Average customer rating:

Messiaen: Catalogue D'Oiseaux Books 1-3 Peter Hill Manufacturer: Regis Records/Premiere ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00006FSQ8 Release Date: 2007-05-29

Average customer rating:

Meditations: Piano Music of Olivier Messiaen Manufacturer: United ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Messiaen | Messiaen, Olivier | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000FDED Release Date: 1995-01-01

Average customer rating:

Olivier Messiaen (Collected Works & an Interview with Claude Samuel) Olivier Messiaen , Pierre Boulez , Marius Constant , Yvonne Loriod , Georges Barboteu , Alain Jacquet , Katia Labeque , Marielle Labeque , Michel Garcin , Guy Deplus , Huguette Fernandez , Jacques Neilz , Marie-Madeleine Petit , Solistes des Choeurs & Orchestre Philharmonique de L'O.R.T.F. , Rachel Yakar , Maria Oran , Marie-Claire Alain , and Groupe Instrumental a Percussion de Strasbourg/Ensemble ARS NOVA Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Messiaen | Messiaen, Olivier | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000005E7E Release Date: 1992-09-08

Track Listings:

1. Messiaen: Visions de l'Amen; Petites Esquisses d'Oiseaux
2. Michael Farris at SMU
3. More Galops, Marches and Dances from Hans Christian Lumbye
4. Mozart and the Organ
5. Mozart: The 6 String Quintets
6. Nielsen: Springtime in Funen/Suite From Aladdin
7. Olivier Messiaen: Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité / L'Ascension / Messe de la Pentacôte - Jennifer Bate, Organ
8. Opera Australia: Moya Henderson's Lindy [Import]
9. Organ Encores
10. Organ Music of Franz Liszt

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Help Is on Its Way [Import]

Milonga Tangueada

Nothin' But the Blues [Box set] [Import]

If Summer Had Its Ghosts

Stand Up Straight

Number Ones of the 1970s: Best of Rhythm & Blues

Rough Side of the Mountain

Messe Pour Le Port Royal

Original Artist Hit List

On the Corner Meets Benny [Import]

Playing the Angel [Import]

Resineye Barkear [Import]

New Perspectives

Down the Road

The Swing Sessions Volume 3