Some Thoughts on Playing the Organ by Willem Tanke: Olivier Messiaen

04/04/2014

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

This is a unique passage in the history of keyboard music. Written in 1939 (!), the texture remains completely original; as far as I know, nothing similar has ever been written by Strawinsky, Bartok, Schönberg or Varèse at the time or other composers since.

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.