Olivier Messiaen

Catalogue d'Oiseaux Vol. 4-7

Catalogue D'Oiseaux by Olivier Messiaen is a set of 7 books with 13 pieces for Piano composed between 1956 and 1958. Each volume refers to a special bird and to the region where the bird istypically from in France. The piece does not just describe the bird, it also depicts its surroundings, such as other birds, the landscape of its area, the colours and the temperature.

Book 1 - LeChocard des Alpes (Alpine Chough)
- Le Loriot (Golden Oriole) IH Le Merle Bleu (Blue Rock Thrush)

Book 2
- Le Traquet Stapazin (Black-Eared Wheatear)

Book 3
-LaChouette Hulotte (Tawny Owl)
- L'Alouette Lulu (Wood Lark)

Book 4
- La Rousserolle Effarvatte (Reed Warbler)

Book 5
- L'Alouette Calandrelle (Short-Toed Lark)
- La Bouscarle (Cetti's Warbler)

Book 6
- Le Merle de Roche (Rock Thrush)

Book 7
- La Buse Variable (Buzzard)
- Le Traquet Rieur (Black Wheatear)
-Le Courlis Cendré (Curlew)

As mentioned above, this fourth volume focuses on the Reed Warbler which is set in Sologne, located south of Orleans.

The interpretation of these piecesrequires a strong level of Piano (upper advanced), due to some complex technical requirements.

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French organist and composer passionate about Ornithology and one of the mostimportant composers of his century. Inspired by Japanese music, he had a very special way of composing and his work can be identified by its complexity, its diatonic aspect, its harmony with limited transposition, its colour andits additive rhythms. He composed many works related to ornithology and birdsong, including the 'Treatise on Rhythm, Colour and Ornithology' in 7 volumes.