🇫🇷Olivier Messiaen ： Preludes – Instants defunts

“Instants defunts,” the fourth of the 8 pieces in Messiaen’s Preludes, evokes the sensation of time quietly receding through restrained movement and delicate sonorities. While the melodic lines unfold in long, sustained phrases, subtle changes in harmonic color and register continually transform the expression. Rather than pressing toward a clearly defined progression, the performer should treat each resonance and silence with care. Listen closely to ensure that the pedal does not blur the sonority, keep the inner voices audible, and preserve the slight tension and shading within the stillness; this allows the work’s distinctive sense of time to emerge.