Olivier Messiaen

Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist, and teacher whose music is marked by a distinctive harmonic language using modes of limited transposition, complex rhythmic structures drawn from non-Western and ancient sources, and the frequent incorporation of birdsong and overt religious themes. He served as a prominent organist and taught composition at the Paris Conservatory, and his output spans organ, orchestral, chamber, and vocal works characterized by vivid timbre, coloristic orchestration, and a strong spiritual sensibility.