Olivier Messiaen - Quartet for the End of Time

Olivier Messiaen - Quartet for the End of Time

Mvt I - 0:48
Mvt II - 3:41
Mvt III - 8:33
Mvt IV - 15:13
Mvt V - 17:04
Mvt VI - 26:11
Mvt VII - 33:09
Mvt VIII - 40:48

This is the audio of a concert recording of this remarkable and technically challenging 20th Century work, performed here by the Cameo Trio with a guest cellist to make the quartet. The performance took place in August, 1999 with my wife Cheryl Atherton at the piano.

April 7, 2014, sees in a milestone birthday for Cheryl, and rather than treating it as a "millstone" as some might, she has tackled in head on! In the same spirit, I worked on this video in order that it would go "to air" on her birthday as a tribute to one of her many stunning performances.

Happy Birthday Cheryl, my love and my life.

Any copyright claimants, please note that this live, concert recording is used here by permission of the original engineer, and representatives of the Cameo Trio, and has been acknowledged here and in the closing credits of the video.

I have as diligently and carefully as possible sourced all images used in this video, and the owners thereof are duly acknowledged both here and in the closing credits of the video.

*Please note: My intention is that this remains an all-age channel. Comments will be posted upon approval. Any trolling or comments with offensive language will not be approved. You are entitled to an opinion, but if you are incapable of expressing it without moronic language, then it's not worth hearing or reading.*

Acknowledgements:

(Deep Art Nature, page by Bill Davis)
(page by René Verwer)
(Todd McComb, All Music Guide)
(Soylent Communications)
(Alberta Barnes, 2012)
(Michael Tattersall, son of Dr. Captain Peter Tattersall R.A.M.C.)
(Private J.D. Caves: The Long Journey Home)
(Victoria University of Wellington)
(page By: Susan Hall, 2012)
(Charles Lam, Hong Kong, China)
(Robert Balestra)
(image credit: NASA, ESA)

[thoughtfuloutsider]

This my favourite piece of art music of the 20th century... thank you so much for the quotes from the man himself... the visual references to the music... for 20+ year Ive been wanting to do a dance piece to this but have been some what intimidated by putting a performance together... this has reminded me that I should go forward wit the project or at least the art version of it

[gazewonderer]

Such a dear project for such a dear piece and, apparently, a very dear person <3

[johnnymma]

An absolutely wonderful video to go with a stunning performance of this masterpiece. Thank you.

[arcdykk]

What a beautiful piece of music!
i always listen to this when i'm feeling down, and it never fails to bring me up.
this is truly a great tune!

[silvestrekanil]

Thank you so much for the notes and the video, and also for showing part of the sheet music. This quartet is a woderfull master piece, wich words are not enough to describe.

[vizcayado]

Pueden escucharse trazas de esta característica obra en mucha música de cámara posterior. Resulta divertido encontrarlas.

[sisterrayray]

I want to try to use this recording in a film. Can you put me in touch with anyone who can grant approval or send me in the right direction?

[autodidact]

His music is wonderful; his religiosity is disgusting--ignore it.