Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Number 7 (VII) in Visions de l'Amen.
One of the problems in performance is when you start big where do you go from there? Messiaen intricately keeps it building until the final page where he boldly goes where no piano has gone before. He does catch his breath along the way (2:23 4:21 5:47 6:01 6:42). Note the balancing in dynamics.
The premiere took place on May 10, 1943, in Paris, audience admitted strictly by invitation. Present were Poulenc, Cocteau, Dior, Dutilleux, Valéry, Mauriac and a very young Boulez. The concert was reviewed in Marie Claire (!)
About those 5 f's at the end; this is how it works:
f forte loud/strong
ff fortissimo very loud
fff fortississimo etc...
ffff fortissississimo
fffff fortississississimo
Years in the creation of this recording, no pianos harmed. Be good, love one another and be safe.
Number 7 (VII) in Visions de l'Amen.
One of the problems in performance is when you start big where do you go from there? Messiaen intricately keeps it building until the final page where he boldly goes where no piano has gone before. He does catch his breath along the way (2:23 4:21 5:47 6:01 6:42). Note the balancing in dynamics.
The premiere took place on May 10, 1943, in Paris, audience admitted strictly by invitation. Present were Poulenc, Cocteau, Dior, Dutilleux, Valéry, Mauriac and a very young Boulez. The concert was reviewed in Marie Claire (!)
About those 5 f's at the end; this is how it works:
f forte loud/strong
ff fortissimo very loud
fff fortississimo etc...
ffff fortissississimo
fffff fortississississimo
Years in the creation of this recording, no pianos harmed. Be good, love one another and be safe.
