“Harrisburg AGO Highlights Music of Olivier Messiaen"
In the midst of “The International Year of the Organ”, the Harrisburg Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the titans of twentieth century organ composition, Olivier Messiaen. On Sunday evening, November 23, at 7:30 PM at Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North Third Street, Harrisburg, the public is invited to attend the celebration, and listen to selections composed by Messiaen, played by six chapter members: Susanna Faust, Josephine Freund, Shirley King, Steven Middernacht, Shelly Moorman-Stahlman and Arnold Sten. Messiaen’s entire career and his music was totally entrenched in the Roman Catholic liturgical church and his compositions were of and for the church. A commentary about the life and legacy of this great organ master will be delivered by Professor of Music Emeritus of Dickinson College, Truman Bullard. There is no admission fee for the recital. A free-will offering will be received.
Olivier Messiaen was the precocious child of two poets. His father, Pierre, made a noted translation of Shakespeare, and Olivier at age eight, read aloud all Shakespeare’s works. Before he had any music lessons, he played and sang operas of Berlioz, Gluck and Mozart, which he later said had shaped his fundamental musical habits. At age 11, Olivier entered the Paris Conservatory where he studied until age 22, winning many prizes. He began his teaching career while pursuing studies of the Scriptures and of bird songs, both of which he used frequently in his compositions. He served in the French army in 1939 but was captured in 1940, spending some time in prison camp at Gorlitz. However, that did not stop him from composing and performing with his fellow prisoners. He was repatriated in 1942 and became professor at the Conservatory. He died 50 years later in 1992.*
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*Austin, William W., “Music in the 20th Century - from Debussy through Stravinsky”, W.W.Norton & Company, Inc., NewYork, pp. 393-394.
Mary Jane Nelson, Publicity Chair, Harrisburg AGO