Forgotten Offerings

the forgotten Offerings is a symphonic meditation for orchestra composed by Olivier Messiaen in 1930. The first hearing take place on February 19th 1931 with Paris, the Theater of the Fields-Elysées, under the direction of Walther Straram. It is about the first orchestral work of Messiaen if one excludes the early works.

This work is built in the form of a triptych: three parts connected, and preceded by a comment of the musician himself. This last evokes " the lapse of memory of the man in front of the sacrifice of Christ" :

Extended arms, sad until death, on the tree of the Cross you spread your blood. You love us, soft Jesus, had forgotten we it.

Pushed by the madness and the dart of the snake, in a race haletante, unrestrained, without slackening, we went down in the sin as in a tomb.

Here the pure table, the source of charity, the banquet of poor, here adorable Pity offering bread of the Life and the Love. You love us, soft Jesus, had forgotten we it.

Orchestral manpower: 3 Flutes, 2 Oboe, 1 Cor anglais, 2 Clarinet S, 1 low Clarinet, 3 Bassoon S; 4 horn S, 3 Trumpet S, 3 Trombone S, 1 Tuba; Drinking cups, percussions (Large case, Cymbals, triangle); cords

Execution time: 11-12 minutes.

Random links: