Olivier Messiaen's Opera, Saint Francois d'Assise - Softcover

Benitez, Vincent Perez

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0253042887 ISBN 13: 9780253042880

Publisher: Indiana University Press, 2019

Synopsis

In this comprehensive study of Olivier Messiaen's magnum opus, Saint François d'Assise, Vincent Perez Benitez examines the opera from both theological and musical-analytical perspectives to ask how Messiaen expresses his Catholic theology through his work. Benitez combines a close reading of the opera score with accounts from Messiaen's associates, studies of Messiaen's birdsong notebooks and other primary documents, and an examination of the religious, musical, poetic, and visual arts literature with which the composer was familiar to explore how the opera's harmonic language and sound-color relationships motivate its musical meaning and expression. Through his analysis of these diverse sources and comparisons of Saint François d'Assise with other works such as Berg's Wozzeck and Wagner's Parsifal, Benitez places Messiaen's compositional practice within larger musical perspectives and historical contexts.

About this title

About the Author

Vincent Perez Benitez is Professor of Music Theory at Penn State University. He is author of Olivier Messiaen: A Research and Information Guide.

Edition details

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0253042887
• ISBN 13: 9780253042880
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 328