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 Technique de mon langage musical.
(Technique of my musical language).

It is hoped that this page will serve as a basic introduction to how Messiaen developed his use of rhythm and later melody through his modes.

The first few examples are of rhythms - the fundamental building blocks Messiaen used to develop his unique approach to rhythm - you will need the book(s) for cross reference. Technique de mon langage musical - Alphonse Leduc & Co, Paris.

I am grateful to John Crellin who initially compiled these files.

Example	Chapter / heading / source	Midi file
Chapter 2	Râgavardhana, Hindu Rhythm
1	Ametrical music Strawinsky Sacre du Printemps, Danse sacrale.	Listen
2	simhavikrîdita	Listen
3	Râgavardhana	Listen
4	- modification 1	Listen
5	- modification 2	Listen
Chapter 3	Rhythms with Added Values
6	Added value Three rhythms	Listen
7	- modification of first	Listen
8	- modification of second	Listen
9	- modification of third	Listen
10	Use of the added value les Anges (Messiaen, from La Nativité du Seigneur)	Listen
11	les Anges (Messiaen, from La Nativité du Seigneur)	Listen
12	les bergers (Messiaen, from La Nativité du Seigneur)	Listen
13	Danse de la fureur, pour les sept trompettes	Listen
14	Rhythmic preparations and descents le Collier	Listen
15	Paysage	Listen
16	Epouvante	Listen
17	le collier	Listen
18	le Verbe	Listen
19	-	Listen
Chapter 4	Augmented or Diminished Rhythms and a Table of These Rhythms
20	Augmented or diminished rhythms Epouvante	Listen
21	Addition or withdrawal of the dot Dieu parmi nous	Listen
22	le Verbe	Listen
23	-	Listen
24	These are a series of examples of augmentation of a rhythm followed by diminution. There are 7 examples: a) b) c) d) e) f) g). In each case I have paired them up as they appear across the page for each letter.	<<<<<
25	Inexact augmentations Minuit pile et face	Listen
26	Arc-en-ciel d'innocence	Listen
27	(The strict augmentation of above.)	Listen
Chapter 5	Nonretrogradable Rhythms
28	Retrograde rhythms	Listen
29	Retrograde of 28	Listen
30	Nonretrogradable rhythms (palindromes)	Listen
31	- example 2	Listen
32	- example 3	Listen
33	Danse de la fureur, pour les sept trompettes.	Listen
34	The melodic movement of 33	Listen
Chapter 6	Polyrhythm and Rhyhmic Pedals
35	Superposition of rhythms of unequal length le Verbe	Listen

Part of Par Lui Tout a été fait to listen to.

e-mail rechants1@yahoo.co.uk

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