Composer

:

Olivier Messiaen

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1963 - 1964

Average_duration

:

27:06

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Olivier Messiaen's 'Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum, I/47' is a monumental work for wind and percussion instruments, composed in 1964. The piece was commissioned by the French government to commemorate the victims of World War II, and it premiered on May 30, 1965, at the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The work is divided into five movements, each of which is named after a biblical verse related to the resurrection of the dead. The first movement, "Des profondeurs de l'abîme, je crie vers toi, Seigneur" ("Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord"), is a somber and introspective meditation on death and the afterlife. The second movement, "Le Christ, ressuscité des morts, ne meurt plus" ("Christ, risen from the dead, dies no more"), is a joyful celebration of the resurrection, with bright fanfares and lively rhythms. The third movement, "L'heure vient où les morts entendront la voix du Fils de Dieu" ("The hour is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God"), is a haunting and mysterious piece, with eerie harmonies and ethereal textures. The fourth movement, "Ils ressusciteront, glorieux, avec un nom nouveau" ("They will rise again, glorious, with a new name"), is a triumphant march, with bold brass fanfares and thundering percussion. The final movement, "Et j'entendis la voix d'une foule immense" ("And I heard the voice of a great multitude"), is a grand and majestic finale, with soaring melodies and majestic harmonies. The work ends with a powerful affirmation of faith in the resurrection of the dead. Overall, 'Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum' is a deeply spiritual and profound work, reflecting Messiaen's Catholic faith and his belief in the power of music to express the ineffable mysteries of the divine. The piece is characterized by its rich and colorful orchestration, its complex rhythms and harmonies, and its intense emotional power. It remains one of Messiaen's most celebrated and influential works, and a testament to his unique and visionary musical vision.

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