Olivier Messiaen stands as one of the most influential composers of thetwentieth century and among the foremost religious artists of any era. When hedied in 199... » 

Olivier Messiaen stands as one of the most influential composers of thetwentieth century and among the foremost religious artists of any era. When hedied in 1992 the prevailing image was of a deeply religious man whose onlysources of inspiration were God and Nature and of a composer whose musicprogressed along an entirely individual path impervious to contemporaneousevents and the whims both of his fellow artists and the critics. The Life ofMessiaen paints a more nuanced picture of the man and the musician peeringbehind Messiaens public persona to examine the private difficulties andcreative struggles that were the true backdrop to many of his greatestachievements. Based upon the latest research including previously overlookedsources this book provides an excellent introduction to Messiaens life andwork presenting a fascinating new perspective of a man whose story is moreremarkable than the myths surrounding it. «