Messiaen - which piece to choose?

[missmarple]

Hello, dear pianists. I have a question for you

Last year I learnt Messiaen's piece Noel from Vingt Regards. My piano teacher suggested that I should learn another two of his pieces since next year it will be the 100th anniversary of Messiaen's birth and hopefully, I might have the opportunity to play at some concerts of his music. So I've started learning the piece he chose for me, which is Le baiser d'enfant Jesu.

But I need one more piece of Messiaen. I really enjoy listening to and playing his music, but I find it hard to choose one of his pieces because I can't really estimate the difficulty since I don't know them that well, really

So, are you familiar with any of his pieces that aren't much more difficult than Noel and Le baiser and that would actually sound good performed together?

Thanks a million!

Ajda.

[soliloquy]

to pair with those two piece, how bout one of his, and excuse my spelling because i'm too lazy to look it up, Petite esquisses d'oiseaux?

[retrouvailles]

The Petites Esquisses d'Oiseaux are good, but why not go the extra mile and do a selection from the Caalogue d'Oiseaux?. Le Merle Bleu is a good selection from there. Also look for one of the harder vingt regards, like Regard de l'Esprit de Joie or Le Baiser de l'Enfant Jésus. The latter is probably my favorite from the whole set. Also, one of the more difficult preludes, like the last one, would be good.

[pita bread]

Naw, just go all out with Vingt Regard no. 6 

[missmarple]

Well, I am leaning towards choosing another piece from the Regards since the meaning (or how should I say... context?) of the piece is completely different to the bird songs.

How difficult are Regard de l'Esprit de Joie and Par lui tout a ete fait, comparing to the other two?

What I want to ask is - am I capable of playing them? Some other pieces I'm studying at the moment are Beethoven's op. 2 no. 3, Chopin's thirds etude and Prokofiev's Sonata no. 3.

Thanks again

[retrouvailles]

I would say that Regard de l'Esprit de Joie is possible for you. Par lui a tout été fait might be a bit of a stretch. It is the hardest one of the 20 (arguably).

[pies]

a

[retrouvailles]

Oiseaux Exotiques is not a solo piano piece. The others in your list, save for Vingt Regards 4, 13-16 might be a bit difficult and wont fit with the others.

[ahinton]

Or what about one of the Préludes? - they're very early pieces, of course, although already on the way to being distinctively Messiaenic...

Best,

Alistair

[pies]

a

[soliloquy]

Cataloque d'Oiseaux?  Regard de l'Espirit de Joie?  Par lui a tout été fait?

So, are you familiar with any of his pieces that aren't much more difficult than Noel and Le baiser and that would actually sound good performed together?

Hey I had a great idea!  Why don't you, instead of playing another Messiaen piece, play a piece by one of his students?


Play Xenakis' Evryali

Or what about one of the Préludes? - they're very early pieces, of course, although already on the way to being distinctively Messiaenic...

Best,

Alistair

Those are a good choice.  There's also Fantasie Burlesque, Morceau pour piano, Cantéyodjyâ and La Fauvette des Jardins.

[dnephi]

I really like his Visions de L'amen, for two pianos.  Besides that, the Vingt Regardes are a great set and his bird pieces are neat.

His etudes de Rhythm aren't too hard and they're really savage.

[retrouvailles]

Play Xenakis' Evryali

Hah. A more plausible suggestion would be the Dusapin etudes (for a student of Messiaen). The Fantasie Burlesque and Rondeau are really good too, and not that difficult.

[soliloquy]

Hah. A more plausible suggestion would be the Dusapin etudes (for a student of Messiaen). The Fantasie Burlesque and Rondeau are really good too, and not that difficult.

Dusapin was Xenakis' student.

[retrouvailles]

Dusapin was Xenakis' student.

He was also a student of Messiaen for a brief period of time. However, he chose to walk away from his course because he didn't like it.

[soliloquy]

Ehhh I don't think that really counts then XD  But whatever.

Anyway, try the Dusapin Preludes instead of the Etudes.  They're shorter and more approachable.

[retrouvailles]

How would go about getting these Preludes if Durand hasn't even published them yet? Not everyone has your alleged connections to scores in the pre-publication stage.

[soliloquy]

How would go about getting these Preludes if Durand hasn't even published them yet? Not everyone has your alleged connections to scores in the pre-publication stage.

Beg for them from Marilyn Nonken.  How do you think I got them? 

[retrouvailles]

Beg for them from Marilyn Nonken.  How do you think I got them? 

There's not proof that you do have them. Afterall, I have been waiting for this proof (that you owe me) for, what, about 6 months now?