Olivier Messiaen Quotations

I give bird songs to those who dwell in cities and have never heard them, make rhythms for those who know only military marches or jazz, and paint colors for those who see none.

Ascension He has gone away, the Well-Beloved, For our sake! He is risen, the Well-Beloved, For our sake! He has prayed, the Well-Beloved, For our sake! He has spoken, He has sung, The Word was with God.

The human being is flesh and consciousness, body and soul; his heart is an abyss which can only be filled by that which is godly.

No one should be allowed to make music as if he were made of wood. One must reproduce the musical text exactly, but not play like a stone.

A true music, that is to say, spiritual, a music which may be an act of faith; a music which may touch upon all subjects without ceasing to touch upon God; an original music, in short, whose language may open a few doors, take down some yet distant stars.

It's probable that in the artistic hierarchy birds are the greatest musicians existing on our planet.

Birds are the first and the greatest performers.

My faith is the grand drama of my life. I'm a believer, so I sing words of God to those who have no faith. I give bird songs to those who dwell in cities and have never heard them, make rhythms for those who know only military marches or jazz, and paint colors for those who see none.