Olivier Messiaen - Le merle noir pour flûte et piano 奧利維耶·梅西安 - 《黑鳥》長笛與鋼琴

Flute Recital by Matthew Wu - Blue White Red Capriccio
胡永彥長笛獨奏會

Olivier Messiaen - Le merle noir pour flûte et piano
奧利維耶·梅西安 - 《黑鳥》長笛與鋼琴

Flute: Matthew Wu
長笛: 胡永彥

Piano: Yu Shih-Yu
鋼琴: 游適伃

Presented By: Hong Kong Flute Association
主辦: 香港長笛協會


Olivier Messiaen's fascination with birdsong is a prominent theme throughout his compositions. In 1952, when the flute department of the Paris Conservatory requested a piece for their annual competition, he composed Le Merle Noir ("The Blackbird"). This short, single-movement work marked a significant shift, as it was his first composition to imitate the song of a specific bird species rather than merely referencing birdsong in a general sense.

Messiaen began recording and studying the songs of various birds to weave them into his music. In Le Merle Noir, the piece features short, motivic bursts that replicate the blackbird's call and its fluttering flight. While the connecting passages do not directly incorporate birdsong, they serve as a canvas for Messiaen's signature rhythmic complexity. He skillfully inserts semiquavers into a quaver pulse, creating an ebb and flow of activity that challenges conventional metric structures.

In this performance, Matthew Wu brings the piece to life with remarkable artistry. His technical proficiency and deep emotional connection to the music allow the calls and movements of the blackbird to resonate vividly. Matthew's dedication and keen understanding of Messiaen's style enable the audience to experience the enchanting beauty and complexity of this work fully.