Les Ondes Martenot early electronic inst 2lps Messiaen+

$

104

Les Ondes Martenot - 50e Anniversaire de leur invention - Olivier Messiaen: Fete Des Belles Eaux (1937 for 6 Ondes Martenot) / Andre Jolivet: 3 poems pour Ondes Martenot et piano (1935) / Darius Milhaud: Suite (1932 for Martenot and piano) / Roger Tessier: Hexade (1978 for 6 Ondes Martenot). Ades musique francaise d'aujourd'hui 21.007

Mega-rare 1980 French gatefold 2lp set celebrating the anniversary of Maurice Martenot's invention of the Ondes Martenot, an early electronic keyboard instrument based partly on the Theremin but with additional sound-shaping controls giving it a unique sonority and reverberation. The whole album is superb, featuring Sextuor Jeanne Loriod, an ensemble of multiple Martenots, joined by pianist Yvonne Loriod on 2 tracks. But the highlight is one of the first all-electronic compositions, Messiaen's stunning and beautiful Fete Des Belles Eaux (Festival of Beautiful Waters), which takes up all of disc 1. Predating musique concrete, it was written for live performance on 6 Ondes Martenot accompanied by an abstract light and water show (a 'water ballet'); the piece is for the most part tonal, and masterfully exploits the sound qualities of the instrument. The recording of the Milhaud piece was realized with Madeleine Milhaud, and the Tessier was done with the composer. All in all, a highly recommended set.

Known as the father of the French avant garde, Messiaen worked with Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry, and was an essential teacher of Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Luciano Berio, Francois Bayle, and Francois Bernard Mache (among many other 20th century luminaries). He was influenced by Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, Hindu music, Gamelan, and nature (birdsong), and his composing style was driven in part by his synesthesia (a brain condition that caused him to visually perceive sounds). Milhaud studied under Vincent d'Indy, was associated with Jean Cocteau and Erik Satie, was an important teacher of Karel Goeyvaerts, Ben Johnston, Steve Reich, Morton Subotnick, Philip Glass, and Iannis Xenakis, and was a member of Les Six along with Georges Auric, Arthur Honegger, Poulenc, Germaine Tailleferre, and Louis Durey. Jolivet studied with Paul Le Flem, was influenced by Edgard Varese, and worked with Olivier Messiaen, Daniel Lesur, and Yves Baudrier. Other composers who have experimented with the Martenot are Honegger, Koechlin, Scelsi, Vivier, Varese, Landowski, Ibert, John Donald Robb, Rod McKuen, Karel Goeyvaerts, Takemitsu, and Micheline Coulombe Saint-Marcoux. This lp should be heard by anyone interested in early electronic instruments and performers like Oskar Sala and his trautonium, John Eaton and the Syn-Ket, Robert Moog, Donald Buchla/Morton Subotnick, Clara Rockmore, Miklos Rosza, the Ondioline, Raymond Scott, Bruce Haack, the Arp, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley, John Cage, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Milton Babbitt, Max Matthews, Jean-Claude Risset, Bernard Parmegiani, Herbert Eimert, Robert Beyer, Gottfried Michael Koenig, David Tudor, Hugh Le Caine, Percy Grainger, etc.

Vinyl Condition: both nm
Cover Condition: ex

I have more Messiaen, Jolivet, and several other Ondes Martenot lps for sale. Check out my other auctions this week for more avant garde/experimental, early electronic/electroacoustic, 20th century classical, atonal/serialist, and Moog and other early synthesizer lps.











Shipping will be 3.85 for 1-2 single records for media rate to US destinations, then 0.50 for each additional (expedited shipping and insurance is also available on request). Elsewhere shipping 1 12" lp to: Canada by airmail is 6.50; Western Europe/UK/Scandinavia is 7.00 surface or 12.00 air; Japan/Taiwan/Australia is 7.00 surface or 13.50 air; other international destinations vary. 7" and 10" records will cost less; heavy box sets may cost more. Combine multiple items to save on shipping.

Payment - I prefer Paypal (which allows for fastest possible shipment) and also accept cash, money order (from US financial institutions only, including BidPay, US Postal, certified US bank check, etc., international bidders please take note!), and Western Union money transfer. If you are paying by Paypal and have won multiple items, please use a single Paypal payment. I will send an invoice email to all winners shortly after my auctions close, and another email after payment has been received to confirm item shipment.

Packing - I pack professionally and adequately using new record mailers exclusively from Cameron Packaging (which I have determined are the best and most protective). For used lps, I remove the lp and inserts from the jacket, cover it in a layer of bubble wrap, and then reinforce it with a cardboard insert. All records are shipped with poly plastic sleeves. All packages are completely sealed with strong packing tape covering all openings. If you'd like your package done any differently, just let me know.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions (need more info, want more pictures, etc.); you can use the 'ask seller a question' link above. My condition rating scale is -G+/-VG+/-EX+/-NM/M (only sealed records are M). Satisfaction guaranteed; if you have any problems with your order please contact me directly.

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