There he was captured,
This man of music.
Now a prisoner of war
But music was within his soul,
On scraps of paper he wrote
He wrote his music.
Music that would haunt my mind.
Music for the only instruments that were there,
There in that prisoner of war camp.
So he wrote for piano, clarinet, violin and ‘cello.
Wrote a piece that moves me.
The music was finished
And there in the camp, in the rain,
The four musicians played,
Played the music on their decrepit instruments.
The prisoners and guards watched,
Watched with rapt attention,
And rapt comprehension,
As the end of time sank into their souls.
And still sinks into mine.
Such a meaningful piece of music
That moves me every time.
Every time I hear it,
And every time I hear it
It enters my soul.
-
Author:
Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: May 4th, 2018 01:51
- Comment from author about the poem: The Quartet for the End of time was written in 1941 by Olivier Messiaen, he had been captured by the Nazis and was in a Prisoner of war camp. Luckily one of the guards was a music lover and allowed Messiaen to write some music. He wrote this quartet fr the four instruments that were available. It came into my life many,many years ago when I heard heard the third movement for solo clarinet played live by Emma Johnson and has been with me ever since. It may be hard for some of you to listen to as it is quite challenging to understand in parts, it is best listened to in absolute silence. I knew that I would write about it one day - well this is it.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 25
- Users favorite of this poem: Lauraš»
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Comments6
Super write about a piece which is new to me - about to sit here and listen to it.
Thank you Michael - it needs listening to, not just hearing it.
So interesting Andy..... I tried to like it.... but discordant notes don't do it for me..... however here they seem to fit the eerie scene of music in a concentration camp..... off times, off kilter visions of murderous guards softening up for music.....maybe he was trying to tell them something..........
Thanks Lorna, yes it is hard to listen to but apparently it brought home the awful situation to the inmates and staff when it was played in the POW camp. It means a lot to me as well.
A fine write Gold.
Thanks Orchi.
your soul lets it in.
listening with great interest.
Very true onepauly, thank you.
Andy,
This is one that my dad wouldāve appreciated more than I ever could! Thank you for sharing this great write and video!
~Laura~
Thank you Laura, much appreciated.
amazing pieces, the first seems painful and gradually entrances with virtuoso playing, parhaps a mockery of the audience. the second short passage panders to the belligerence of nazi power and domination i feel. thirdy emerges a piece of beauty which i would love to hear produced with todays electronic marvelry.... then emerges a most moving piece which must bring the frailty of human existence and emotion to even the hardest of hearts encompassing love, sadness and joy in its virtuosity. writing as i listen, there is an amazing sombre section,did this reach nazi hearts one wonders?
This uncomfortable listening cannot have been composed to be passe and conveys much emotion which surely tells of an empathy between performer and their audience - strange to relate but i dont think this music could have existed without such a thing. gone are any thoughts of trivial musical entertainment here.
Now a chiming piano discordantly tells how times will change unharmoniously, i wonder at the message conveyed here and the sombre truth acknowledged by nazis. As you can see this music says much to me and not knowing how much longer it lasts i will stop writing here. Needless to say very moving and thought provoking. Amazing - thank you.
d a, it seems to reach you as much as it does me, it certainly moved the inmates and staff at the POW camp when it was played there. Thank you for your fine comment.
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