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by Olivier Messiaen
"The Virgin and Child"
"Conceived by a Virgin, a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. Rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Zion! Behold your king is coming to you with justice and humility."

I. La Vierge et l’Enfant: The first piece describes the rejoicing of the daughter of Zion (symbolic of the Virgin Mary) at the birth of the Savior. It opens with a serene and intimate portrait of Mary as she contemplates the birth of her child. Through the sonorities Messiaen calls for in this section, we can imagine her pondering why she has been chosen for this role. The second section of this piece employs the melody of the plainsong Puer natus est sounding forth exuberantly in the right hand, while the left hand and pedal carry on an independent rhythm and harmony (the first known separation of rhythm and harmony in Western music!) This is Mary’s rejoicing, her Magnificat. The ecstatic nature of the right hand, not bound by Western harmonic tradition, is matched by the repetitive left hand and pedal, creating a sense of timelessness. As the piece ends, we return to the opening character. Mary has accepted her destiny. A final improvisatory phrase is almost like her shuddering over the enormity of her task. It ends in complete repose.

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from Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur - Full Resolution, released September 20, 2021

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Jonathan Dimmock San Francisco, California

Jonathan Dimmock (www.JonathanDimmock.com) is an internationally renowned concert organist. He is the Principal Organist of the Legion of Honor Museum, Organist for the San Francisco Symphony, and Director of Music at Congregation Sherith Israel. He was Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey. and worked at 3 cathedrals - St. John the Divine (NYC), St. Mark’s (Mpls), and Grace (San Francisco). ... more

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