Olivier Messiaen’s Liturgical Improvisations: A Theological Practice and its Resonances

Forman, J W Bruce (2024) Olivier Messiaen’s Liturgical Improvisations: A Theological Practice and its Resonances. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) was one of the most distinctive and influential composers of the twentieth century. His works exhibit not only his technical innovations and control of his musical material, but frequently also his avowed intention programmatically to express his Catholic faith. In addition to his work as a composer and as a conservatoire professor, he held the post of titular organist of the church of Ste Trinité in Paris for more than sixty years. In that role he was required to respond musically to liturgical texts and actions, these responses most frequently taking the form of improvisations. The inherently ephemeral nature of this activity, and the specific cultural locus of Roman Catholic liturgy, have meant that this part of Messiaen’s activity has received less attention from researchers than his other functions.

This thesis considers the evidence for both the musical content and the theological significance of Messiaen’s liturgical improvisations, and the ways in which that practice may have informed his composition. Significantly, the research includes the first substantial analysis of a set of recordings of Messiaen improvising, made during services at Ste Trinité during the 1980s. This approach, complementing the verbal accounts given by Messiaen himself and others, enables an assessment of his ecclesiastical function as a whole. The resulting interpretation of these improvisations is then further developed with reference to the theology of liturgy, demonstrating that this context enables the music to have its own proper theological force. This in turn enables a refined understanding of Messiaen’s wish to have his composed works understood as a form of transposition of liturgy into the concert-hall. The influence of improvisation on a selection of his compositions is demonstrated, as is the relevance of liturgical theology to the interpretation of his claim that his music aimed to elucidate theological truths.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 10 September 2024 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Messiaen; Improvisation; Organ Music; Liturgy; Liturgical Theology; Recorded Music
Subjects:	CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-02 - performing arts > CAH25-02-02 - music
Divisions:	Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Depositing User:	Jaycie Carter
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2024 10:59
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2024 10:59
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15890

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