„Тема на звездата и кръст“ в клавирния цикъл „Двадесет погледа към младенеца Иисус“ от Оливие Месиан
‘The theme of the star and the cross’ in the piano cycle ‘Twenty contemplations on the infant Jesus’ by Olivier Messiaen

Summary/Abstract: The monumental piano cycle of 20 spiritual meditations cоntains 4 principal themes: ‘The Theme of God’, ‘The Theme of mystical love’, ‘The Theme of the Star and the Cross’ and ‘The Theme of chords’. ‘The Theme of the Star and the Cross’ is manifested in ‘Contemplation of the Star’ (№2) and ‘Contemplation of the Cross’ (№7). Messiaen unites the two theological symbols into one theme because they mark the beginning (the Nativity) and the end (the Crucifixion) of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. The theme, inspired by the evening prayer of Epiphany – Ante luciferum genitus (Begotten before the morning star), is an ascetic monody with the typical sound of plainchant (Gregorian chant). Associations with numerological symbolism arise: code 3, which is woven into the basic theological concept of the Holy Trinity, dominates.

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