The Reinvention of Religious Music: Olivier Messiaen's Breakthrough Toward the B

Description: The Reinvention of Religious Music by Sander van Maas On the basis of a careful analysis of Olivier Messiaens work, this book argues for a renewal of our thinking about religious music. Addressing his notion of a "hyper-religious" music of sounds and colors, it aims to show that Messiaen has broken new ground. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description On the basis of a careful analysis of Olivier Messiaens work, this book argues for a renewal of our thinking about religious music. Addressing his notion of a "hyper-religious" music of sounds and colors, it aims to show that Messiaen has broken new ground. His reinvention of religious music makes us again aware of the fact that religious music, if taken in its proper radical sense, belongs to the foremost of musical adventures.The work of Olivier Messiaen is well known for its inclusion of religious themes and gestures. These alone, however, do not seem enough to account for the religious status of the work. Arguing for a "breakthrough toward the beyond" on the basis of the synaesthetic experience of music, Messiaen invites a confrontation with contemporary theologians and post-secular thinkers. How to account for a religious breakthrough that is produced by a work of art?Starting from an analysis of his 1960s oratorio La Transfiguration de Notre-Seigneur Jesus-Christ, this book arranges a moderated dialogue between Messiaen and the music theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, the phenomenology of revelation of Jean-Luc Marion, the rethinking of religion and technics in Jacques Derrida and Bernard Stiegler, and the Augustinian ruminations of Soren Kierkegaard and Jean-Francois Lyotard. Ultimately, this confrontation underscores the challenging yet deeply affirmative nature of Messiaens music. Author Biography Sander van Maas teaches philosophy and music at Utrecht University College, the University of Amsterdam, and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. His publications include The Reinvention of Religious Music: Olivier Messiaens Breakthrough Toward the Beyond (Fordham University Press, 2012), Thresholds of Listening: Sound, Technics, Space (Fordham University Press, 2015), and Contemporary Music and Spirituality (Routledge, 2016). Review "Labeled "philosophy" by the publisher, this book contains neither musical examples (either in score or CD form) nor an index, but it does offer 40 pages of notes and an extensive bibliography that includes Augustine, Eduard Hanslick, Heidegger, Kant, and Kierkegaard. The writings of Hans Urs von Balthasar and Jean-Luc Marion serve as points of departure and scrutiny. Positing that listening to Messiaens music requires more than aesthetics, theology, musicology, or theory, musicologist Sander van Maas investigates whether the "musical experience of the work of Messiaen merely results from ingenious rhetorical techniques" or whether there is something more. Is the music, as Messiaen himself believed, a "breakthrough toward the beyond" (i.e., an inner "dazzlement" or religious experience)? Or, in the contrary view, is this "breakthrough" a nonreligious "adoration of music"? According to the author, Messiaen "situates the listener at once inside and outside faith." Not meant for casual reading, the book includes sentences such as "Thinking about the phenomenon in terms of objectivity mystifies the original phenomenality of the phenomenon." Those who do embark on the book will likely find Messiaens The Technique of My Musical Language (Eng. tr., 1956) and a CD of "La Transfiguration de Notre-Seigneur Jesus-Christ" useful aids. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers, faculty, professionals." -Choice "A penetrating and thought-provoking exploration of what might be entailed by Messiaens musical breakthrough to the beyond. The Reinvention of Religious Music provides us with a wealth of fresh and original perspectives on this complex, endlessly fascinating musician." -- -Jeremy Begbie Duke University "In his eloquent and detailed study, van Maas discusses the theological meaning of Messiaens music and the ways in which this unique sound world seeks to configure and even evangelize Messiaens Christian thought. Maas presents an absorbing and provocative insight into Messiaens faith in music that will enhance appreciation of this often misunderstood composer and his work." -- -Andrew Shenton Boston University "If the idea that religious music is a thing of the past helps you sleep better, Sander van Maas provocative book should wake you up. Did you ever think that an ear could be circumcised? From the Bible to Messiaen and Derrida, he radically rethinks the relationships between ear and flesh." -- -Peter Szendy Universite de Paris X Nanterre "Examines the religious dimension of this composers music." -Publishers Weekly Long Description On the basis of a careful analysis of Olivier Messiaens work, this book argues for a renewal of our thinking about religious music. Addressing his notion of a "hyper-religious" music of sounds and colors, it aims to show that Messiaen has broken new ground. His reinvention of religious music makes us again aware of the fact that religious music, if taken in its proper radical sense, belongs to the foremost of musical adventures. The work of Olivier Messiaen is well known for its inclusion of religious themes and gestures. These alone, however, do not seem enough to account for the religious status of the work. Arguing for a "breakthrough toward the beyond" on the basis of the synaesthetic experience of music, Messiaen invites a confrontation with contemporary theologians and post-secular thinkers. How to account for a religious breakthrough that is produced by a work of art? Starting from an analysis of his 1960s oratorio La Transfiguration de Notre-Seigneur J Review Text "In his eloquent and detailed study, van Maas discusses the theological meaning of Messiaens music and the ways in which this unique sound world seeks to configure and even evangelize Messiaens Christian thought. Maas presents an absorbing and provocative insight into Messiaens faith in music that will enhance appreciation of this often misunderstood composer and his work." --Andrew Shenton, Boston University Review Quote In his eloquent and detailed study, van Maas discusses the theological meaning of Messiaens music and the ways in which this unique sound world seeks to configure and even evangelize Messiaens Christian thought. Maas presents an absorbing and provocative insight into Messiaens faith in music that will enhance appreciation of this often misunderstood composer and his work. -----Andrew Shenton, Boston University Details ISBN0823230589 Short Title REINVENTION OF RELIGIOUS MUSIC Publisher Fordham University Press Language English ISBN-10 0823230589 ISBN-13 9780823230587 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 781.700 Pages 242 Year 2012 Imprint Fordham University Press Subtitle Olivier Messiaens Breakthrough Toward the Beyond Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Publication Date 2012-03-14 UK Release Date 2012-03-14 AU Release Date 2012-03-14 NZ Release Date 2012-03-14 US Release Date 2012-03-14 Author Sander van Maas Alternative 9780823230570 Audience Tertiary & Higher Education We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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