Lenten Music Journey Day 1: Ash Wednesday, Messiaen's "Le Banquet Celeste"

Today (Yesterday) marks the beginning of Lent; our journey to the Cross. We celebrate today as Ash Wednesday. Many of us went to Ash Wednesday services  and received the mark of the cross on our foreheads. In Christian tradition it is customary to burn the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday service in order to make the ashes that are put on our foreheads. "Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return." ~Genesis 3:19.

I chose Oliver Messiaen's "Le Banquet Celeste" (The Heavenly Banquet) for today's Lenten piece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTyvgKdlIZc

Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist (study of birds). He entered the Paris Conservatoire at the young age of 11 and later became professor of harmony and composition. Here's a bit about his incredible background as an organist: Messiaen joined famous French organist, Dupré's organ course. Dupré later wrote that Messiaen, having never seen an organ console, sat quietly for an hour while Dupré explained and demonstrated the instrument, and then came back a week later to play Johann Sebastian Bach's Fantasia in C minor to an impressive standard. This is quite incredible. He was well known for his important position at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité in Paris, France. Messiaen's other passion besides music was bird calls which can often be heard in his organ and piano pieces.

The work featured today "Le Banquet Celeste" is one of Messiaen's early organ works. This piece calls for an extremely slow tempo; it is in-fact only two pages long! I think his use of chords and tonal colors create just what it is called--a heavenly sound. About half way through the piece you hear short notes played against the chords. These are supposed to be representative of drops of water (through a very detailed articulation marking on Messiaen's part). The piece kind of just floats in time. I thought this was a good piece to start our Lenten journey. It represents the long journey of 40 days that we have ahead. It's a time to reflect and to really think about what Christ did for us. 


Peace!

Introduction to Lenten Music Project

I have decided to start a music project on my blog in honor of the forty days of Lent. Each day I will post a video that I think reflects the emotions and meaning behind the Lenten season. Lent is a time for reflection in which we walk the road that Christ walked to the Cross. Let us do so with an open mind and heart.

Spring Performances 2012

Hello All,

 

I've had a great start to the semester, and I am especially excited for my performing opportunities this semester. Here is a list of spring semester events that I will be participating in:

 

Saturday, January 21, 8 pm, Gamble Auditorium- PRISM Concert: An evening of movie music. I will be accompanying Schubert's Ave Maria and singing in Mr. Sun's Echo (accelpella men's group)  perfroming Mulan's I'll Make A Man Out of You

 

Friday, January 27, 8 pm, Gamble Auditorium- Symphonic Wind Ensemble Concert: I will be playing piano with this concert band--more or less as an added effect not a concerto

 

Friday, February 24, 8 pm, Gamble Auditorium- Women's and Men's Chorus Concert: I will be singing in Men's Chorus and in Mr. Sun's Echo (performing Mulan's I'll Make a Man Out of You and a John Williams Medley)

 

Saturday, March 31, 2:30 pm, Gamble Auditorium- Piano Department Recital: I will be one of 24 pianists performing Shostakovich's Twenty-four preludes

 

Saturday, April 14, 7 pm, Gamble Auditorium- Bach's St. Matthew Passion: This huge work is part of the annual B-W Bach Festival, I will be singing in my choir in this event. Paid ticket required! Tickets sell fast for this event.

 

Sunday, April 29, 4 pm, Gamble Auditorium- Men's Chorus Concert: I will be performing in the Men's Chorus and performing with Mr. Sun's Echo. Paid ticket required.

 

 

So those are all of the events I have right now. I will definitely send out monthly updates. Please watch this blog for updates because I will most likely be giving a Joint Recital in the Spring with fellow freshman pianist, Helen Candea. The date has not been set yet but I will let you know as soon as we set it.