Overview

In this comprehensive study of Olivier Messiaen's magnum opus, Saint Francois d'Assise, Vincent Perez Benitez examines the opera from both theological and musical-analytical perspectives to ask how Messiaen expresses his Catholic theology through his work. Benitez combines a close reading of the opera score with accounts from Messiaen's associates, studies of Messiaen's birdsong notebooks and other primary documents, and an examination of the religious, musical, poetic, and visual arts literature with which the composer was familiar to explore how the opera's harmonic language and sound-color relationships motivate its musical meaning and expression. Through his analysis of these diverse sources and comparisons of Saint Francois d'Assise with other works such as Berg's Wozzeck and Wagner's Parsifal, Benitez places Messiaen's compositional practice within larger musical perspectives and historical contexts.

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9780253042880

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Reviews

Benitez's Olivier Messiaen's Opera, Saint Francois d'Assise, is a remarkable and revela-tory book, and is comprehensive from its approach to music analysis as well as its provision of a theological context to Messiaen's magnum opus. -- Christopher E. Mehrens * Music Reference Services Quarterly *

Author Information

Vincent Perez Benitez is Professor of Music Theory at Penn State University. He is author of Olivier Messiaen: A Research and Information Guide.

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