These two videos (each illustrating one movement from Olivier Messiaen’s A Quartet for the End of Time) are truly remarkable. They feature artist Zack Smithey, and were produced by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for an upcoming concert.
Listening to these pieces in the context of the video was interesting for me as it allowed me to see my own musical growth. I remember listening to the Quartet after reading Alex Ross’ The Rest is Noise, and not being able to follow it musically. This time I had no trouble (due in no small part to the fact that I have just finished an intensive music theory unit on Debussy’s harmony).
hammer & jack 