Peter Hill - Olivier Messiaen: Catalogue d'Oiseaux, Books 1-3 (1988)

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Peter Hill - Olivier Messiaen: Catalogue d'Oiseaux, Books 1-3 (1988)

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The seven "books" of Olivier Messiaen's enormous "Catalogue d'oiseaux (Catalogue of Birds)" were composed between 1956 and 1958. In all, they encompass two and a half hours of some of the most beautifully evocative music for solo piano ever penned. Peter Hill's epic survey of the complete piano music of Olivier Messiaen splits this particular cycle over three volumes, with the first three books being presented here. (For the other volumes see " Catalogue d'oiseaux, Books 4-6 ", " Catalogue d'oiseaux Book 7 ". This CD is also available as part of the Peter Hill's complete " Catalogue d'oiseaux " set and also within the " Messiaen - Complete Piano Works ".)

Peter Hill worked closely with the composer during his preparation for these recordings, made in 1986. His performances were enthusiastically endorsed by Olivier Messiaen himself, so that one can regard this series as being as close to a definitive set as it is possible to achieve. Certainly, the performer's sympathetic treatment of these works, combining pianistic precision with an exquisite deftness of touch - as well as the discs' stunning recording quality - makes it unlikely that they can ever be bettered. These discs also include the composer's own detailed programme notes for each of the movements, together with a highly informed and informative essay on the works, written by recording producer, Anthony Pople, making this a truly indispensable series of releases indeed.

The "Catalogue d'oiseaux" as a whole provides a wonderfully atmospheric depiction of various wild parts of France, through highly virtuosic presentations of sequences of transcribed bird-song, painstakingly notated by the composer on countless field-trips throughout his life. What comes across to the (non-ornithological) listener first and foremost, though, is the intense musicality - and colourfulness - of the resulting opus. These are true studies - and celebrations - of beauty. It is also music of the utmost joy and peacefulness, reminding us that as well as his love of the natural world (most especially its birds) Olivier Messiaen also held deep religious convictions. Here is beauty tempered by spirituality, resulting in the most moving and touching of musical works.

Book 1 of the cycle presents us with three sparkling vistas. 'Le Chocard des Alpes (The Alpine Chough)' is set in the Alps of Dauphiny, with its rugged mountain and glacial scenery. Here the piano relays the raucous calls of Choughs and Ravens together with evocations of sights such as the majestic, silent soaring of the Golden Eagle. By contrast, 'Le Loriot (The Golden Oriole)' delights in the early morning June sunshine flashing off the bright plumage of the birds of the lower Loire valley, and echoing the glittering songs of the woodland songbirds, in particular, the almost magical exotic voice and plumage of the Golden Oriole. (The essentially virtuosic - and somewhat romantic - nature of this particular scene may have something to do with the title's punning reference to the composer's second wife, pianist Yvonne Loriod.) The book closes with 'Le Merle bleu (The Blue Rock Thrush)', which is set on the Vermilion Coast, also in June. The intense blue sheen of the Mediterranean finds a reflection in the plumage of the Blue Rock Thrush, singing amongst the rocky clefts of the awesome cliffs, amidst the crashing of the waves, beautifully represented in the crashing chordal clusters amongst the sparkling trills.

Book 2 presents but a single location. Once again, we are in the region of Roussillon and the Vermilion Coast in June. This time, though, we are treated to a 15-minute encapsulation of the passing day, from the rising of the red-gold orb of the sun from the depths of the sea at 5am, through to the fall of night, some 17 hours later. As ever, Olivier Messiaen's unerring ability to conjure colours from his harmonic structures transports the listener effortlessly to the scene. Close your eyes and you can all but feel the developing heat of mid-morning, as the light grows in intensity. The cooler evening and the approach of night brings a welcome breeze from the distant sea, together with the remote calls of the gulls.

The final book on this disc presents us with two views of the night. 'La Chouette Hulotte (The Tawny Owl)', with its mysterious and eerie calling, evokes the terrors of the unknown that lurk within the darkness, whilst 'L'Alouette Lulu (The Woodlark)' demonstrates a calmer, more relaxing side to the night. The rippling calls of Woodlark and Nightingale augment, rather than spoil, the peace and tranquillity of the darkness amidst the Grand Bois in the mountains of the Forez. The final quiet notes die away into the silence of midnight… I swear I can even smell the pine resin!

All in all, this is a disc of music to listen to with the lights down low, and the eyes closed, to let it work its magical evocations to the full. Above all else, though, it is truly music to treasure, presented here in one of the very best versions imaginable. Unreservedly recommended.

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Peter Hill - Olivier Messiaen: Catalogue d'Oiseaux, Books 1-3 (1988)

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