Méssiaen

1963 · Best.-Nr. 33738 — Paris: Durand & Cie PN 11843 1963. Folio. Original publisher's light pink printed wrappers. 1f. recto title verso blank 1f. recto dedication to Henriette Roget verso blank 1 contents 2-55 i advertisement pp. Text in French. Wrappers slightly soiled creased and chipped; detached. Annotations in pencil throughout. Ex libris musicologist Stanley Boorman with his signature to corner of upper wrapper. First Edition later issue. Simeone I/2. The Préludes premiered in Paris at the Concerts Durand by the composer on 28 January 1930. "The sources of Messiaen's music may be traced on the one hand to the French organ tradition and on the other to the innovations of Debussy Stravinsky and Bartók but right at the start of his career he found a modal system that has a completely individual sound and to this he remained true even when he vastly extended the possibilities of his style after World War II. He was alone too among major 20th-century composers in his joyously held Catholic faith which again was unswerving however much he came to value non-European cultures especially Indian and Japanese. As a teacher he instructed many of the most prominent composers of the next two generations." Paul Griffiths in Grove Music Online. Durand & Cie [PN 11843] unknown books