|
|
Article: Piece pour piano et quatour a cordes.
- Article from:
- Notes
- Article date:
- September 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Music Library Association, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Composed in 1991, Piece for piano and string quartet is one of the last works Olivier Messiaen wrote before his death on 27 April 1992. In this brief and dynamic composition, commemorating the ninetieth anniversary of Alfred Schlee and Universal Edition, one finds a pared-down version of Messiaen's musical style that is effective and enchanting.
The aptly chosen title, "Piece," has relevance not only to the length and nature of the composition but also to its content, which largely comprises a string of short musical ideas, separated by moments of notated silence. Within this almost fragmentary realm, Messiaen exposes different timbres in each musical section ...