Clarinet Chamber Music
Liturgie de cristal --- Vocalise, pour l'Ange qui annonce la fin du Temps --- Abime des oiseaux --- Intermede --- Louange a l'Eternite de Jesus --- Danse de la fureur, pour les sept trompettes --- Fouillis d'arcs-en-ciel, pour l'Ange qui annonce la fin du Temps --- Louange a l'Immortalite de Jesus
| Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992), French | Quality: 9.5 |
| Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps (Quartet For the End Of Time) | Difficulty: 10 |
| 1941 | 48:00 |
| Durand, 1942 | Violin, Clarinet, 'Cello, & Piano |
Description
 | Abime des oiseaux (Abyss of the Birds), for unaccompanied clarinet, may be performed alone (7:30) |
| Written while Messiaen was a prisoner in a POW camp; these were the only instruments available |
| The title refers to the apocalypse; the first seven movemnts are for perfection (seven being the "perfect number"), and the eighth is to extend the work into infinity |
| 20th Century style: birdcalls, nonretrogradable rhythms, modes of limited transposition, rhythms of added values, augmented/diminuted rhythms, some tone rows |
Necessary Qualities
| Good sense of rhythm and a steady tempo |
| Independent playing |
| Each player must be technically advanced on his or her instrument |
Pedagogical Suggestions
| Listen to recordings |
| Analyze the piece |
Recommended Recordings
| W. Boeykens with R. Dieltiens-'cello, R. Groslot-piano, and M. Korosec-violin; Olivier Messiaen: Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps (Quartet for the End of Time) - Ensemble Walter Boeykens; Harmonia Mundi Franc |
| P. Meyer with M. Chung-piano, G. Shaham-violin, and J. Wang, 'cello; Messiaen: Quartet For The End Of Time / Shaham, Meyer, Et Al; Deutsche Grammophon |
| D. Shifrin with I. Bae-'cello, W. Doppmann-piano, and W. Lash-violin; Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time; Bartók: Contrasts; Delos |
| R. Stoltzman with I. Kavafian-violin, P. Serkin-piano, and F. Sherry-'cello; Olivier Messiaen: Quatuor Pour La Fin Du Temps (Quartet For The End Of Time); RCA Victor |
| J. Valdepenas with S. Ashkenasi-violin, D. Hetherington-'cello, and P. Parr-piano; Quartet for the End of Time; Summit |