La Nativité du Seigneur, neuf méditations pour orgue (The Nativity of the Lord, nine meditations for organ or The Birth of the Saviour) is a work for organ, written by the French composer Olivier Messiaen in 1935 in Grenoble.[1]
It is a testament to Messiaen's Roman Catholic faith, being divided into nine "meditations" inspired by the birth of Jesus. In volume one, Messiaen outlines his inspirations, both theological, instrumental and compositional. As the composer notes in his preface, he sought "the emotion and sincerity first".[2] The work was written by the composer at the age of 26 years during the summer of 1935 while he was in residence at Grenoble near the French Alps.[3] Messiaen wrote that in addition to theology, the movements were inspired by the mountains, as well as the stained glass windows in medieval cathedrals.[2]
In 1967, Richard Franko Goldman wrote, "One is, indeed, tempted to say that the work is a masterpiece, and one of the great organ works of all time. It is certainly monumental and impressive, original and memorable, with or without the theoretical and mystical explanation the composer himself gives out."[6]
^Goldman, Richard Franko, "Review: Simon Preston's recording of La Nativité du Seigneur" in The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 53, No. 2 (April 1967), pp. 290-293.