This album presents Olivier Messiaen’s organ cycle Les Corps glorieux (1939), subtitled “Seven Short Visions of the Life of the Resurrected,” performed by Hans-Ola Ericsson. Composed just before World War II, this deeply spiritual work reflects Messiaen’s Catholic faith and his fascination with eternity, resurrection, and the mystical qualities of sound.
Structured in three books of seven movements, the cycle explores theological themes through musical symbolism: purity, light, strength, and the mystery of divine existence. Each movement is inspired by scripture and conveys a specific vision of resurrected life, using Messiaen’s distinctive techniques—modes of limited transposition, non-retrogradable rhythms, Gregorian chant, and colorful harmonic language.
The centerpiece is the fourth movement, Combat de la mort et de la vie, portraying the struggle between death and life through dramatic contrasts and jubilant resolution. The final movement, Le mystère de la Sainte Trinité, is a musical expression of the Trinity, structured around the number three, with symbolically layered voices.
Also included is Verset pour la fête de la Dédicace (1960), a joyful, chant- and birdsong-inspired piece composed after a decade focused on other musical themes. It anticipates later works like Couleurs de la cité céleste, using Gregorian alleluia motifs, vibrant color chords, and Messiaen’s unique rhythmic language.
This recording reveals Messiaen’s union of theological reflection and musical invention, offering a profound listening experience rooted in faith, color, and mystery.
Extra material for download
