Skip to content

Olivier Messiaen's System of Signs: Notes Towards Understanding His Music
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Olivier Messiaen's System of Signs: Notes Towards Understanding His Music Hardcover - 2008

by Andrew Shenton


From the publisher

Andrew Shenton's groundbreaking cross-disciplinary approach to Messiaen's music presents a systematic and detailed examination of the compositional techniques of one of the most significant musicians of the twentieth century as they relate to his desire to express profound truths about Catholicism. It is widely accepted that music can have mystical and transformative powers, but because 'pure' music has no programme, Messiaen sought to refine his compositions to speak more clearly about the truths of the Catholic faith by developing a sophisticated semiotic system in which aspects of music become direct signs for words and concepts. Using interdisciplinary methodologies drawing on linguistics, cognition studies, theological studies and semiotics, Shenton traces the development of Messiaen's sign system using examples from many of Messiaen's works and concentrating in particular on the Mditations sur le mystre de la Sainte Trinit for organ, a suite which contains the most sophisticated and developed use of a sign system and represents a profound exegesis of Messiaen's understanding of the Catholic triune God. By working on issues of interpretation, Shenton endeavours to bridge the traditional gap between scholars and performers and to help people listen to Messiaen's music with spirit and understanding.

Details

  • Title Olivier Messiaen's System of Signs: Notes Towards Understanding His Music
  • Author Andrew Shenton
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Pages 216
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Routledge
  • Date February 2008
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780754661689 / 0754661687
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2007010560
  • Dewey Decimal Code 780.92

About the author

Andrew Shenton holds bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees from London University, Yale and Harvard respectively. A noted scholar and performer, Dr Shenton currently serves on the faculty of Boston University where he directs the Master of Sacred Music program and the Boston University Messiaen Project (BUMP).
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Olivier Messiaen's System of Signs: Notes Towards Understanding His Music
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Olivier Messiaen's System of Signs: Notes Towards Understanding His Music

by Andrew Shenton

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780754661689
ISBN 10
0754661687
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$210.48
$12.77 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Ashgate Pub Co, 2008. Hardcover. New. illustrated edition. 210 pages. 9.05x6.05x0.75 inches.
Item Price
$210.48
$12.77 shipping to USA