Olivier Messiaen's creative life was continually shaped by his Roman Catholic mysticism and faith, influencing his compositions with elements like bird songs and plainchant.
Performer Biography
Mel Butler, the performer on this album, was Canon Musician of Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle, from 1992 until his retirement in 2014.
Interpretation
The performance of Duruflé's Toccata on this album incorporates idiosyncratic interpretations, such as dramatic pauses and unexpected rubato, in tribute to American organist Virgil Fox.
Instruments
The Flentrop organ at Saint Mark's Cathedral, installed in 1965, contains 3,944 speaking pipes and is one of the largest 20th-century organs using mechanical keyboard action.
Instruments
The Flentrop organ's success has influenced organ building throughout the United States, despite its modern visual style, it features case architecture similar to an 18th-century Dutch organ.
Recording & Production
This recording is part of a series celebrating 50 years of the Flentrop organ at Saint Mark's Cathedral, with most recordings made from live concerts.
Compositional Technique
Messiaen's Messe de la Pentecôte uses 'irrational' rhythmic values, where a musical score indicates durations outside of the common duple meter system, creating mathematically organized tempo changes.
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