FromFête des belles eaux to Saint François d’Assise: the evolution of the writing for Ondes Martenot in the music of Olivier Messiaen

On 3 May 1928 a young French cellist and engineer presented a new musical instrument at the Opéra de Paris, an instrument which instantly fascinated the audience that had flocked to see it. That day, Maurice Martenot revealed to the general public the Ondes Musicales, sharing with them his observations on the transmission equipment he had used during the war, throughout his army service as a radiotelegraphic soldier.