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STUDY DAY AND MASTERCLASS SATURDAY 7
MAY 2005
JENNIFER BATE : THE ORGAN MUSIC OF OLIVIER MESSIAEN
CAOS’ third study day opened in the elegant
setting of the Senior Parlour at Gonville and Caius College where over thirty
participants attended a lecture by Jennifer Bate. Her extensive experience of
working closely with Olivier Messiaen lent unique authority to her insights into
both the technical and spiritual dimensions of his work, focusing on Le Livre
du Saint Sacrament. Her introduction was illustrated by her own recordings
and her own copy of the work with ms annotations made under the supervision of
M. Messiaen. The subsequent discussion tackled, amongst other topics, the
relationship between Messiaen’s theology and actual performance.
The afternoon master classes took place in St John’s College Chapel, where
difficult problems of interpretation and registration were faced and practical
solutions offered. This was especially useful when attempting fidelity to
Messiaen’s intentions on instruments which do not match his specifications. The
participating advanced students, on this occasion existing and past organ
scholars from the Cambridge colleges, prepared pieces ranging from the Communion
and Sortie from La Messe de la Pentecôte, Offrande et Alleluia from Le Livre
du Saint Sacrament,
L”Ange aux parfums (Les Corps Glorieux), Alleluias sereins (L’Ascension)
and Dieu parmi nous from La Nativité: Both students and audiences were
able to share, via the sound and video link between the organ loft and the
chapel, Jennifer Bate’s thoughtful, sensitive and authoritative analyses of
performances.
The whole day, both in its content and its settings, once again clearly
fulfilled a need and answered the expectations of advanced professionals and
listening enthusiasts alike.
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