Turangalîla Symphonie - Messiaen

I am surprised no one has mentioned this work before in this forum.

It is one of the orchestral masterpieces of the 20th century, scored for a really massive orchestra

I actually saw a performance conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen here, about a month ago, and it was absolutely stunning. Apart from one trombonist where he played one bar before he should have (and it was supposed to be totally silent... )

Anyway, here's a link to the 5th movement, which is enjoyable, and you can also find links to other movements on youtube, if you look them up (the 2nd, 6th and 8th movements are amazing )

YouTube - Messiaen - Turangalîla Symphonie - 5th Movt - Aimard, Davis

I am surprised no one has mentioned this work before in this forum.

I've mentioned it a gazillion times. It's my favorite work of ''classical' music.

That recording is amazing. Totally brings out the best in that movement. I'd have to say my favorite is mvt 6 though.. The martenot sings so beautifully!!

hehehehe, yes, "La joie du sang des étoiles" is also my favourite movement of the piece. I've loved it since hearing it when I was 16.

Ahh, I love it too! The symphony isn't my favourite work by Messiaen, but it's still totally amazing.

i'm with you as well, messiaen is BIG

Any body here watch the show Futurama? (It was a animated show created by Matt Groening, the same guy that created the Simpsons.) Anyway, there's a one-eyed character on the show who's name is Leela. On one particular episode we find out that her full name is actualy Turanga Leela. I nearly fell out of my seat laughing at the reference.

check out Turanga Leela - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by grainger

Any body here watch the show Futurama? (It was a animated show created by Matt Groening, the same guy that created the Simpsons.) Anyway, there's a one-eyed character on the show who's name is Leela. On one particular episode we find out that her full name is actualy Turanga Leela. I nearly fell out of my seat laughing at the reference.

check out Turanga Leela - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wow! I love both Messiaen and Futurama but I never had realized this reference! I wonder how I could miss that...

Although I agree that the Turangalila Symphony is a great, compelling piece of music, it is not even half as great, innovative and impressive as Messiaen's true orchestral masterpiece, Chronochromie, which was the first big piece for orchestra he wrote after Turangalila and which represented a giant step forward in his development as a composer. Gone are the kitschy, syrupy diatonic moments; instead, Messiaen shifted emphasis to far greater complexity, a harsher kind of chromaticism, more birdsongs and a sophisticated technique of manipulation of durations as advanced as the techniques used by his younger pupil Boulez.

My personal favourite of Messiaen's "orchestral" pieces (only a small orchestra in this case) are the "Sept Haîkaî". But maybe only because I did a detailed analysis of its sixth piece, "Les oiseaux de Karuizawa" once.

I saw the Salonen performance earlier this year too and it was incredible, but unfortunately I was sitting really close to the ondes martenot and the volume was unbearable! Luckily I knew the piece well enough to cover my ears when I knew it was coming in but they really should have put the speakers somewhere else...