Messiaen • Festival of Beautiful Waters

Description

The electronic instrument known as the Ondes Martenot was invented and named by the French musician Maurice Martenot. Messiaen prominently features the Ondes Martenot in two of his best-known works: the Turangalîla – Symphonie and the opera Saint François d’Assise. La Fête des Belles Eaux was written for a sound and light show at the 1937 Paris Exposition. As a bonus to this celebration of the Ondes Martenot, a curious detail is the first movement of Ravel’s violon, alto, violoncelle in F major, played by four Ondes Martenot players. After hearing his quartet played on the Ondes Martenot, Ravel said, “That’s how I hear this piece in my inner dream.”