Messiaen: Quatre études de rythme - 2. Mode de valeurs et d'intensités

[fnork]

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Does anyone have any experience of performing or studying this piece? I was asked to play it in a contemporary music concert in one and a half month. I rather liked the piece from the start, but it looks like QUITE a project and perhaps not enough preparation time....Anyway, I was just interested in seeing if anyone else has any experience with playing it. No matter what, I might post my thoughts on it again later, once I start digging through the text

[furtwaengler]

Hi fnork, I saw this the other day and replied in my mind...sorry for the delay!

I've played Ile de feu 1 and Neumes rythmiques, both decidedly easier than Mode de valeurs et d'intensités and Ile de feu 2, and not comparable to the problems of Mode de valeurs et d'intensités. However I have also played Cantéyodjayâ which does have sections of comparable difficulties, though not as sustained. I don't typically write a lot on my scores, but Cantéyodjayâ is all marked up with different color highlighters, numbers penciled in for counting purposes, and other helps...a most dirty score.

Doing your best to memorize the dynamics and registers, even if you are not going to memorize the piece, and a lot of creative work with a metronome, finding as simple a way as possible to structure the rhythmic challenges will be most helpful. But you are a wonderful, fantastic pianist, and I'm sure you will find a way and do well here. Good luck and keep us posted!   

Dave

[fnork]

hey, and thanks for the reply! I rarely check the forums anymore, so I just noticed that you had answered.

Luckily for me, the concert was postponed and will take place in the autumn instead. In other words, I´ll definately give the piece a chance since I rather like it - and we´ll see if it´s something worth learning. As an etude, it´s certainly an interresting piece to learn...I´d love to do the other rhythmic studies one day too, nice to see that you´ve played them!