ABSTRACT
Messiaen produced a range of writings on the subject of his own works and those of composers he admired, and penned his thoughts on an array of musical and non-musical topics. This chapter considers these writings in chronological order of years. It deals with Messiaen's technical devices, and therefore resembles an update to The Technique of My Musical Language. The revealing chapter on sound-colour is of great interest, given its coverage of Messiaen's early experiences of synaesthesia and how it manifested itself for him both visually and musically. Messiaen's career as a composer and teacher has left one of the most significant musical and theoretical legacies of the twentieth century. Within this, the Traité provides a wealth of first-hand insights into the work of a many-faceted figure that can easily seem enigmatic and highly idiosyncratic. The chapter focuses on two rhythmic resources central to his work: Greek metres and Hindu rhythms.
