Some Thoughts on Playing the Organ by Willem Tanke: September 2013

29/09/2013

Olivier Messiaen - first duet from "L'Ange aux parfums", both hands

Composed in 1939, this passage is still unique in organ literature. Hundreds of hours of practising and then it's gone in one minute.

28/09/2013

Olivier Messiaen - first duet from "L'Ange aux parfums", right hand only

This passage is played with affection, not too fast.

27/09/2013

Olivier Messiaen - first duet from "L'Ange aux parfums", left hand only

Here it can be seen that the fingers remained "glued" to the keys, as it were. This has been composed in 1939 and is incredibly modern for that age. There is no parallel with Schoenberg, Strawinsky, Bartok, or any other composer so far as I know.

About

As a classical organist I have been a prominent Messiaen and Reger interpreter since the '90s. Nowadays Bach interpretation is my main classical project. This is represented by my research "Dancing Bach on the organ". At the same time, as an improviser and a performing composer, I have been creating a new musical language which brings together musicians with avant-jazz, avant-pop, Western classical and traditional African and Asian backgrounds. I now relate this to my Bach interpretation.