Kresge Library

The Meadow Brook Music Society

presents

Quartet for the End of Time

an iconic masterpiece by French Composer Olivier Messiaen 
featuring Oakland University faculty artists
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Reception @ 7:30pm
Concert @ 8:00pm
meadow brook music society

It has been an exciting inaugural season for Meadow Brook Music Society, a collaborative cultural effort between Meadow Brook Hall and Oakland University in the stunning ballroom of Meadow Brook. On April 7, the season will conclude with a powerful performance by Oakland University faculty.

The iconic 20th-century masterpiece Quartet for the End of Time, composed by Frenchman Olivier Messiaen, was first performed in freezing temperatures and squalid conditions at a German prison camp on January 15, 1941 by a quartet of French prisoners. Only the power of this music, terrifying and at times sublimely beautiful, could transform the spirits of these prisoners during the most horrible of times.

Faculty artists from Oakland University perform this seminal work in a 70th anniversary commemoration of this historic event. 20th century music scholar Jessica Payette will present a brief talk about the piece prior to the performance. This intimate setting lends itself to conversation and dialogue, so expect to sit and talk with the artists after the show.

All proceeds benefit the preservation of The Hall and a scholarship fund for Oakland University students in the Department of Music, Theater, and Dance. The evening includes a dessert reception and wine & cheese afterglow. Tickets are $55 per person. Seating is limited. Reservations are required. Please call (248) 364-6263 for more information.

About the Musicians

Library Resources for Further Reading

Resources about Olivier Messiaen*
Griffiths, Paul. Messiaen, Olivier. Grove Music Online.
Anderson, Julian. (2009) Messiaen and the notion of influence. Tempo 63(247): 2-18.
Forte, Allen. (2002). Olivier Messiaen as serialist. Music Analysis 21: 3-34.

Books about Messiaen and sound recordings of his work at Kresge Library.

Online recording of Quartet for the End of Time (Holy Cross Chamber Players) from Kresge Library's Naxos database.*

*Access to full text resources from off campus is limited to current Oakland students, staff, and faculty.

Created on 3/5/11 by Shawn Lombardo / Last updated on 5/1/19 by Shawn Lombardo
Oakland University

Oakland University, Kresge Library
2200 N Squirrel Rd., Rochester, MI 48309
(248) 370 - 4426