The organ version of Messiaen's 'L'Ascension' was praised by the music press upon its premiere in January 1935, immediately establishing him as a significant composer of his generation.
Compositional Technique
Messiaen's innovative organ textures, seen in works like 'Le Banquet Céleste', 'Alléluias sereins', and 'Offrande au Saint-Sacrement', have roots in the work of Charles Tournemire, an organist-composer renowned for liturgical extemporisations.
Composer Biography
Olivier Messiaen, a towering figure in 20th-century music, entered the Paris Conservatoire at an early age and joined Marcel Dupré's organ class in 1927, despite never having seen an organ console before.
Composer Biography
Messiaen served as Organist at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité (La Trinité) in Paris for over sixty years, from 1931 until his death.
Performer Biography
Tom Winpenny, the organist on this recording, is Assistant Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral and previously served as Sub-Organist at St Paul's Cathedral, London.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Messiaen's teaching philosophy encouraged his pupils, including Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and George Benjamin, to find their own musical voice rather than imposing his style.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Messiaen's highly personal musical language was deeply influenced by the natural world, Eastern music, and his devout Catholicism.
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