Introduction and project outline
Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) is one of the most significant composers of the twentieth-century yet remains one of the least discussed. The Boston University Messiaen Project was a three year, cross-disciplinary event dedicated to scholarly discussion and performance of Messiaen’s music and to related cultural, historical, theological issues in an effort to raise awareness of this notable figure. Using the resources of Boston University, cooperation from organizations in the City of Boston and advances in technology, it provided a variety of musical and scholarly offerings that were of interest to a wide range of audiences. The BUMP is jointly sponsored by the School of Music, the School of Theology and CAS/GRS.
Messiaen Web site
There is currently no official web site for Messiaen and he is underrepresented on general classical music web sites. The background to the BUMP and one of its most important components is this web site dedicated to Messiaen. The web site will as a resource continue beyond the initial term of BUMP.
Community involvement
In addition to working with different departments at Boston University (including the School of Music, School of Theology, French Department and others), we collaborated with local music groups, including orchestras, choral groups and chamber groups, to provide a range of concerts, pre-concert lectures, exhibitions, and other educational experiences associated with French culture during Messiaen’s life and the art and music of France during his lifetime.
2006 project launch and mini-conference
Nigel Simeone and Peter Hill, authors of the new Messiaen biography (Yale 2005) were guests at the official launch of the BUMP in September 2006. Details of the events can be found here.
2007 weekend conference
A second conference was held in the fall of 2007. This event focussed on cross-disciplinary work, especially on Messiaen’s theology, and was hosted by the School of Theology.
Fall 2008 centenary festival
For the entire fall semester of 2008 Boston University promoted a series of Messiaen events at the University and in the City of Boston in cooperation with many local organizations. These culminated at the actual anniversary of his birth, Wednesday December 10 with a film screening at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, coupled with a performance of his Quatuor pour la fin du temps.