"This volume provides an understanding of a unique apirit who attempted to reveal the essence of music." -- Choice
Introduction * Messiaen's Teaching at the Paris Conservatoire: A Humanist's Legacy, Jean Boivin * Theology of Illusion, Ian Darbyshire * Theological Implications of Restrictions in Messiaen's Compositional Processes, Roberto Fabbi * Mystical Symbols of Faith: Olivier Messiaen's Charm of Impossibilities, Jean Marie Wu * Rhythmic Technique and Symbolism in Messiaen's Music, Robert Sherlaw-Johnson * Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Theme of Truth in Messiaen's Saint Fran ois d'Assise, Camille Crunelle Hill * Messiaen's Saint Fran ois d'Assise and Franciscan Spirituality, Nils Holger Petersen * Magic and Enchantment in Olivier Messiaen's Catalogue d'Oiseaux., Theo Hirsbrunner * Messiaen and Surrealism: A Study of His Poetry, Larry Peterson * Speaking with the Tongues of Men and of Angels: Messiaen's 'language communicable,' Andrew Shenton * Spiritual Layout in Messiaen's Contemplations of the Manger, Siglind Bruhn