[Messiaen’s Piano Works] Exquisite gems born from an extraordinary sense of color

Olivier Messiaen, born in 1908 in Avignon, France, was active as a composer, organist, pianist, and music educator.

He also had facets of a theologian and an ornithologist, and his extraordinary passion for birds is vividly reflected in his works.

Moreover, he possessed synesthesia—the ability to associate sounds with colors and patterns—and is said to have completed his pieces by writing those associations directly into the score in his distinctive style.

In this article, we introduce some of Messiaen’s works that are frequently performed, focusing on solo piano pieces and compositions that include piano.