Messiaen

American  

[mes-yahn] / mɛsˈjɑ̃ /

noun

1. Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles 1908–92, French composer and organist.

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Messiaen British  

/ mɛsjɑ̃ /

noun

1. Olivier (ɔlivje). 1908–92, French composer and organist. His music is distinguished by its rhythmic intricacy; he was influenced by Hindu and Greek rhythms and bird song

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Messiaen

Its cousin, the ondes martenot, was featured in one of Groening’s favorite classical pieces — the “Turangalîla-symphonie” by Olivier Messiaen — which would inspire the name for a lead character in “Futurama,” Turanga Leela.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2025

And then there were moments of “11,000 Strings” that sounded like the musical aviaries of Olivier Messiaen emanating from a far away lath house.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

But their collaborations also tend to overshadow Loriod’s life before and beyond Messiaen.

From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2024

MacMillan is the greatest musical gift to the Catholic Church since Olivier Messiaen merged birdsong, raga-inspired rhythms and all-around ecstasy with rhapsodic faith.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2023

She draws inspiration from the French composer Olivier Messiaen, who also transcribed birdsong into musical notation.

From New York Times ● Jun. 6, 2023