Composer

:

Olivier Messiaen

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1989

Average_duration

:

9:36

"Un Sourire" is a composition for orchestra by the French composer Olivier Messiaen. It was composed in 1989 and premiered on January 18, 1991, by the Orchestre National de France, conducted by Myung-Whun Chung. The piece is divided into three movements and has a total duration of approximately 20 minutes. The first movement, titled "Le Sourire" (The Smile), is characterized by its bright and joyful tone. It begins with a series of ascending scales played by the strings, which are then joined by the woodwinds and brass. The music is highly rhythmic, with frequent changes in tempo and meter. The movement features several solos, including a prominent clarinet solo, which adds to the playful and whimsical nature of the music. The second movement, titled "La Fausse Plainte" (The False Complaint), is more somber in tone. It begins with a mournful melody played by the strings, which is then taken up by the woodwinds and brass. The music is characterized by its use of dissonance and chromaticism, which create a sense of tension and unease. The movement features several solos, including a haunting oboe solo, which adds to the melancholic and introspective nature of the music. The third and final movement, titled "Le Vrai Visage de la Paix" (The True Face of Peace), is a return to the joyful and celebratory tone of the first movement. It begins with a fanfare-like theme played by the brass, which is then taken up by the strings and woodwinds. The music is highly rhythmic, with frequent changes in tempo and meter. The movement features several solos, including a virtuosic trumpet solo, which adds to the triumphant and exuberant nature of the music. Overall, "Un Sourire" is a highly expressive and colorful work that showcases Messiaen's unique style and musical language. The piece is characterized by its use of complex rhythms, colorful harmonies, and vivid orchestration, which create a sense of joy, melancholy, and triumph throughout the three movements.

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