Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Languages
Timeline
Generic
Olivier Messiaen

Olivier Messiaen

Paris,Hauts-de-France

Summary

Renowned 20th-century French composer, organist, and teacher, recognized for pioneering a distinctive musical language that blends traditional techniques with innovative rhythms, harmonies, and modes. A deep interest in nature, spirituality, and the mystical informed many of my compositions, and the unique approach I use to rhythm and harmony influenced generations of composers.

Overview

95
95
years of professional experience

Work history

Composer & Freelance Musician

Self-employed
Paris
02.1930 - Current
  • Composed over 100 works, including major orchestral works such as Turangalîla-Symphonie (1948), Les Offrandes Oubliées (1930), Quartet for the End of Time (1941), and numerous choral and organ pieces.
  • Pioneered use of modes, extended harmonies, and non-traditional rhythm structures in both sacred and secular music.
  • Known for integrating non-Western and natural sounds, particularly bird song, into compositions (e.g., Catalogue d'Oiseaux).
  • Wrote extensively on music theory, including Technique de mon langage musical (1944), outlining my own compositional methods.

Organist & Instructor

Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, France
Paris, France
01.1931 - 02.1992
  • Served as principal organist at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, performing both classical and contemporary repertoire.
  • Innovated organ composition and performance, developing complex pedal techniques and unconventional use of stops.
  • Promoted French organ music through public performances and regular recitals.

Professor of Composition & Theory

Paris Conservatoire
01.1941 - 02.1978
  • Taught composition, music theory, and analysis to some of the 20th century’s most influential composers, including Pierre Boulez, Jean-Michel Damase, and Yannis Xenakis.
  • Fostered the development of French avant-garde music and the exploration of new harmonic and rhythmic languages.

Education

Diploma in Composition and Organ Performance - Composition and Organ Performance

Conservatoire de Paris
Paris, France

Skills

  • Composition: Prolific composer across genres including orchestral, choral, chamber, organ, and piano music
  • Music Theory: Deep expertise in modes, rhythmic structures, and novel harmonic languages
  • Organ Performance: Skilled organist with a deep understanding of the instrument’s capabilities, particularly in sacred and concert settings
  • Pedagogy: Experienced music educator, dedicated to teaching composition, theory, and organ performance
  • Eclectic Musical Influences: Integration of bird songs, Indian rhythms, and religious mysticism in music
  • Innovation in Rhythm: Invented new rhythmic techniques, notably "additive rhythms" and "non-retrogradable rhythms"
  • Sound Analysis: Developed novel concepts of sound perception and harmony

Accomplishments

    Awards & Honors
  • Grand Prix de Rome (1931)
  • Légion d'Honneur (1987)
  • Prix des Critiques (1949)
  • Prix de la Musique Symphonique (1959)
  • Member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts (1965)
  • Honorary Doctorates from multiple institutions, including the University of Edinburgh (1973).

Languages

French
Native
English
Fluent

Timeline

Diploma in Composition and Organ Performance - Composition and Organ Performance

Conservatoire de Paris

Professor of Composition & Theory

Paris Conservatoire
01.1941 - 02.1978

Organist & Instructor

Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, France
01.1931 - 02.1992

Composer & Freelance Musician

Self-employed
02.1930 - Current
Olivier Messiaen