October 4th, 11th, 18th and November 8th, 15th, 22nd
As an organist, I’ve always been profoundly grateful for the fact that our repertory has been enriched so much by the music of two composers in particular: Bach and Messiaen. Bach’s organ works have often been described as “cathedrals of sound.” To complete these structures, Messiaen's masterpieces are surely the stained glass of these cathedrals - catching, reflecting and transforming light as it enters the sacred space - illuminating the interior, sending the spirit soaring beyond the confines of the stone.
In Messiaen’s own words: "The stained-glass windows magnify the light, one of God's first creations, but the organ brings to the church something similar to light that yet surpasses it: the music of the Invisible. It is the wondrous overture to the Beyond..."
Messiaen’s trademark musical tools – brilliant colors, startling rhythms derived from diverse sources such as ancient Greek and Hindu music, and melodies derived primarily from chant and transcriptions of bird song – combine to create a visionary and deeply spiritual language aimed to elevate the listener from the commonplace into a closeness with the divine mysteries.
To play all of Messiaen’s organ works is an ambition I have long cherished, but never realized. It seems an opportune moment, as we commemorate the centenary of the composer’s birth in 2008, to embark on such a project, and the Arents Memorial Organ at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue lends itself particularly well to Messiaen’s music.
Listening to these works live in a church acoustic is an incomparably thrilling experience; the magnificent French Gothic interior of Saint Thomas and its spectacular stained glass provide an ideal backdrop for opening oneself up to the miraculous power of these transcendent masterpieces.
