Bach and Messiaen are the two most important composers for organ music. They were the ones that were able to discover a complete new way of looking at the organ and making music. This is the best organist in the world playing some of the greatest music!
First heard this played by Simon Preston in the early 70s. I've no affinity whatsiever for Catholicism or Christianity but this still brings a tear to my eye. Stunning piece. Bravo Olivier and well played Mr Latry!
Tho' not not a deeply religious person, and having as an organ builder heard this music many times before, I now know what the first Olivier meant and the second Olivier brought to me , deeply, ever so deeply. Music, raised and elevated. Give Thanks!
I consider myself an ignorant of strong music. But this kind of music makes me better after litsening to it. In my deeply humble opinion, I think, as a catholic, that if Bach is in Paradise and his Music is really God's Music, well.. Messiaen kept Bach's Heritage , so we can say that Messiaen's Music is God's Music too!!
Wonderful tuning of the celestes! For once they beat regularly (about two and a half times each second) all the way up the keyboard. What a liquid flute. Scrumptious. Please note the efficacity of the swell boxes in both these Ascension videos. Their walls are untra-thick and the shutters fit really tight.
@ds1868 The reason is simple. Those are the original voices with the original voicing. It is Willis! Unfortuantely the other stug has been revoiced by people with not enough respect for the original.
@ds1868 This movement suits this Organ perfectly. Most of the time, these beautiful smaller ranks of pipes are not heard, which is very sad. The second movement would be nice on this Organ as well.
@ds1868 - the Great reeds were always very dominant - Willis' in their blazing power, Harrisons' in their sheer mass of tone. Mind you, the Swell is no less loud...
During his incarceration in Stalag VIII-A in 1940, Messiaen arranged L'Ascension for paper and comb orchestra, but it was never performed because of the shortage of toilet paper. Much later on, Jess Yates and Rolf Harris help to popularise L'Ascension with versions for tremolo electric organ and Stylophone respectively. (P-J Croset, "L'Ascension dans la Culture Moderne", Les Editions Gallimard, 1983, trans. B. Jarvis)
@ds1868 - Gloucester is great for this music, too, as are the early-60s Harrisons at Windsor, Coventry and St Albans. The Walkers of that era, like Blackburn and Liverpool Metropolitan, are magical too - go to watch?v=pNxIp8t2blA and you'll hear what I mean.
Bach and Messiaen are the two most important composers for organ music. They were the ones that were able to discover a complete new way of looking at the organ and making music. This is the best organist in the world playing some of the greatest music!
First heard this played by Simon Preston in the early 70s. I've no affinity whatsiever for Catholicism or Christianity but this still brings a tear to my eye. Stunning piece. Bravo Olivier and well played Mr Latry!
this is so very heart warming. cant wiat to hear the orchestral versio in cardiff this december on Messiaen's b day!
Tho' not not a deeply religious person, and having as an organ builder heard
this music many times before, I now know what the first Olivier meant and
the second Olivier brought to me , deeply, ever so deeply. Music, raised and
elevated. Give Thanks!
his pace is like the eternal and you CAN feel a clear pulse. I love this. she strings are just bleeding air so wonderfully
Messiaen's music is pure liquid love.
¿¿Cómo es posible que haya alguien a quien no le haya gustado esto??
I seem to remember one of our music teachers playing this on the organ at St. Edmund's College, Nr. Ware, HERTS in 1971/2.
I consider myself an ignorant of strong music. But this kind of music makes me better after litsening to it. In my deeply humble opinion, I think, as a catholic, that if Bach is in Paradise and his Music is really God's Music, well.. Messiaen kept Bach's Heritage , so we can say that Messiaen's Music is God's Music too!!
This is amazing music - wonderful.
Wonderful tuning of the celestes!
For once they beat regularly (about two and a half times each second) all the way up the keyboard.
What a liquid flute.
Scrumptious.
Please note the efficacity of the swell boxes in both these Ascension videos. Their walls are untra-thick and the shutters fit really tight.
i was there :)
@ds1868 The reason is simple. Those are the original voices with the original voicing. It is Willis!
Unfortuantely the other stug has been revoiced by people with not enough respect for the original.
This isn't "Part Two"! It is Movement no. 4.
@ds1868 This movement suits this Organ perfectly. Most of the time, these beautiful smaller ranks of pipes are not heard, which is very sad. The second movement would be nice on this Organ as well.
@ds1868 - the Great reeds were always very dominant - Willis' in their blazing power, Harrisons' in their sheer mass of tone. Mind you, the Swell is no less loud...
During his incarceration in Stalag VIII-A in 1940, Messiaen arranged L'Ascension for paper and comb orchestra, but it was never performed because of the shortage of toilet paper. Much later on, Jess Yates and Rolf Harris help to popularise L'Ascension with versions for tremolo electric organ and Stylophone respectively.
(P-J Croset, "L'Ascension dans la Culture Moderne", Les Editions Gallimard, 1983, trans. B. Jarvis)
he's the one and only :D:D
we were treated to both version of L'Ascension the other being for orchestra conducted by messiaens pupil george benjamin
This is the fourth and last piece of the work.
@ds1868 If you do not like the RAH organ, which organs in the UK would you say were good and for what reasons?
goodchappy try the organ at the bridgewater hall in Manchester. you may get a more accurate feel for the room.
@ds1868 - Gloucester is great for this music, too, as are the early-60s Harrisons at Windsor, Coventry and St Albans. The Walkers of that era, like Blackburn and Liverpool Metropolitan, are magical too - go to watch?v=pNxIp8t2blA and you'll hear what I mean.
6:02
Brittish pipe organs are the best in the world !
You're welcome!! lol
😅
messiaen was there in spirt
There is nothing more exciting than a swelling organ.