Olivier Messiaen

Olivier Messiaen (1908, Avignon – 1992, Paris) was one of France's leading modern composers. He incorporated a wide variety of inspirations into his works: Gregorian chant, Greek and Indian rhythms, Hindu ragas, gamelan orchestras, impressionism, Russian music, quarter-tone technique and birdsong. At the age of eleven, he went to the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied with Paul Dukas and Marcel Dupré. In 1931, he became organist at the church La Sainte-Trinité in Paris. He held this position for more than 40 years. Throughout his life, the song of birds was a central theme for Messiaen. After “Awakening of the birds” (1952), he listed around 50 birds in “Exotic birds” (1956) and compiled a “Catalogue of birds” in 1958. His piano piece “Mode of values and intensities” became known as the first serial composition in 1951.

Olivier Messiaen: Biographie - Klassik Heute (klassik-heute.de)