O sacrum convivium

O sacrum convivium (O Sacred Banquet), written for the Parisian church of Sainte-Trinité in 1937, evokes the rhythmic freedom of Gregorian chant, unfolding slowly without clinging to any strict measure of time. This short motet for four-part mixed choir with or without organ accompaniment captures the sense of wonder and reverence engendered by the “sacred banquet”, the Blessed Sacrament of the bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ, received by worshippers during Mass. Messiaen’s harmonies, built around the secure foundations of F-sharp Major, appear to shimmer in and out of focus, heightened in expressive intensity by passing dissonances and an exquisitely beautiful soprano line. Messiaen’s faith in the eternal truths of the Catholic faith was central to his work as a composer and long-serving church organist. While his organ works often reflect the great mysteries of Christianity, the Nativity and Holy Trinity among them, only a few of his pieces were created for use in church services. O sacrum convivium, however, was specifically intended for performance during the Latin Mass.