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Oliver Messiaen was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist, born on December 10, 1908, in Avignon, France. He is recognized as one of the major composers of the 20th century. Messiaen studied at the Paris Conservatoire from 1919 to 1930, where he was taught by notable instructors. He later served as a professor at the conservatoire from 1941 to 1978 and was also an organist. His first published work, the eight Preludes for piano (1929), showcased his unique modal system characterized by tritones, diminished sevenths, and augmented triads. In the 1930s, he developed a taste for rhythmic irregularity and vibrant orchestral colors in his works. Many of his compositions were explicitly religious, featuring styles that ranged from slow meditation to lively dance and the systematic unfolding of arithmetic. Notable works from this period include L'ascension (1933), La nativité du Seigneur (1935), Les corps glorieux (1939), Poèmes pour Mi (1936), Chants de terre et de ciel (1938), and the Quatuor pour la fin du temps (1941). During World War II, Messiaen found himself surrounded by eager students, including his future second wife. For her, he composed Visions de l'amen (1943) and Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus (1944), followed by

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