Messiaen: Poémes pour Mi: and other chamber works

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Release Date: 31st May 2011
Catalogue No: CHRCD022
Label: Champs Hill Records
Length: 76 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi, books 1 & 2

Work length26:55

$9.50

$13.30

Gweneth-Ann Jeffers, Stephen De Pledge
The London Conchord Ensemble

I. Action de grâces

Track length7:03

$1.50

$2.10

II. Paysage

Track length2:23

$1.00

$1.40

III. La maison

Track length1:40

$1.00

$1.40

IV. Épouvante

Track length3:01

$1.00

$1.40

V. L’épouse

Track length2:02

$1.00

$1.40

VI. Ta voix

Track length2:49

$1.00

$1.40

VII. Les deux guerriers

Track length1:33

$1.00

$1.40

VIII. Le collier

Track length3:46

$1.00

$1.40

IX. Prière exaucée

Track length2:38

$1.00

$1.40

Messiaen: Theme and Variations for Violin and Piano

Work length10:45

$1.50

$2.10

Matthew Trusler, Stephen De Pledge
The London Conchord Ensemble

Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus, No. 4: Regard des Anges

Work length5:11

$1.00

$1.40

Stephen De Pledge
The London Conchord Ensemble

Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus, No. 15: Le basier de l’Enfant-Jésus

Work length12:35

$2.00

$2.80

Stephen De Pledge
The London Conchord Ensemble

Messiaen: Le Merle noir for flute and piano

Work length6:37

$1.00

$1.40

Daniel Pailthorpe, Stephen De Pledge
The London Conchord Ensemble

Messiaen: Six Petites Esquisses d’Oiseaux

Work length14:06

$6.00

$8.40

Stephen De Pledge
The London Conchord Ensemble

I. Le Rouge-gorge

Track length2:18

$1.00

$1.40

II. Le Merle Noir

Track length2:08

$1.00

$1.40

III. Le Rouge-gorge

Track length2:29

$1.00

$1.40

IV. La Grive musicienne

Track length2:12

$1.00

$1.40

V. Le Rouge-gorge

Track length2:34

$1.00

$1.40

VI. L’Alouette des champs

Track length2:25

$1.00

$1.40

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The lucid lyricism of Olivier Messiaenʼs song cycle, Poémes pour Mi opens this recital of some of his finest chamber music. Soprano Gwen-Ann Jeffers makes the most of Messiaenʼs unique harmonic colours in this set of songs dedicated to the composerʼs wife, Claire Delbos (“Mi” was his pet name for her).

Pianist Stephen De Pledge - who studied with Mme. Messiean prior to the recording of these works - takes the solo role for 6 petites esquisses dʼoiseaux, six brief sketches paying homage to the robin, blackbird, song-thrush and others; and reminding us that Messiaen, a composer of note, was also an acknowledged authority on birdsong. That influence is also present here with the recording of Le Merle Noir (ʻThe Blackbirdʼ), for flute and piano. Flautist Daniel Pailthorpe takes the songs of the blackbird, playing over a piano part almost representing the topographic background.

One of Messiaenʼs most important compositions - and arguably one of the most outstanding solo piano works of the 20th century - was his vast cycle Vingt Regards sur lʼEnfant-Jésus, composed in 1944. Stephen De Pledge plays here the 14th and 15th pieces, considered as the double climax of the entire cycle. The first begins with a brilliant toccata, and ends in an awesome coda; the second a more peaceful and warm ʻcosmic lullabyʼ.

Stephen is joined by the violinist Matthew Trusler for Thème et Variations, an abstract work composed early in Messiaenʼs career (in 1932). The theme begins with a spiritual calm, before each of the five variation quickens in tempo and melodic elaboration leading to an ecstatic climax and coda.

This disc, with 76 mins of music, is a re-mastered reissue of a previous Black Box release. All the tracks on this disc were recorded in the Music Room at Champs Hill (2002/3), and the artists featured here have gone on to record many other discs at Champs Hill.

Messiaen: Poémes pour Mi

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