Olivier Messiaen

In the summer of 1978 Messiaen retired from teaching at the Conservatoire. The third piece inspired by the Tristan myth was Cinq rechants for twelve unaccompanied singers described by Messiaen as influenced by the alba of the troubadours. He travelled widely and wrote works inspired by diverse influences such as Japanese music the landscape of Bryce Canyon in Utah and the life of St.

The piece was first performed by Messiaen and fellow prisoners for an audience of inmates and prison guards. His many distinguiOlivier Messiaend pupils included Pierre Boulez and Yvonne Loriod who became his second wife. On the fall of France in 1940 Messiaen was made a prisoner of war during which time he composed his Quatuor pour la fin du temps ("Quartet for the end of time") for the four available instruments—piano violin cello and clarinet.