Ozone invite Marc Ducret autour de la Nativité d'Olivier Messiaen

‘Our present tends strongly to simplify, or even reduce, the human being to a dualism of body and soul.

Our present tends strongly to simplify, or even reduce, the human being to a dualism of body and soul.

Yet the dimension of the spirit, in the spiritual sense of the word, is inherent to the human condition in general, and all the more so for a human being who is a musician, both performer and improviser.

It therefore seemed essential to me to work on a piece that would symbolise this idea. My research crystallised around Olivier Messiaen and this extraordinary work, La Nativité du Seigneur, which my friend Emil Spányi introduced me to.

As the composer indicates, he sought ‘emotion and sincerity first. But conveyed to the listener by sure and clear means’. Messiaen makes extensive use of the elements of his usual musical language, in particular modes of limited transposition, as well as Indian rhythms.

It constitutes a great change, even a revolution, in organ music of its time.

It is a joy and an honour to bring this timeless music to light today, with the formidable musicians Emil Spányi, Marc Ducret and John Quitzke, in an approach combining the original score, in an electrified version, with certain rhythmic, harmonic and improvised developments.

Christophe Monniot Christophe Monniot - Saxophones Emil Spányi - Keyboards John Quitzke - Drums Marc Ducret - Guitar