Interview with organist Paul Jacobs: Olivier Messiaen

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One of the most brilliant musical minds of his generation, Paul Jacobs is the current chair of the organ department at the Juilliard School, a post he's held since 2004. The 37-year-old Yale and Curtis alumnus performed Messiaen's final work for the organ, the 'Livre du Saint-Sacrement' (1984), last Sunday in San Francisco. Jacobs' recording of the work earned a Grammy in 2011, the only ever awarded to an organist. Below is a transcript of our recent conversation with organist, Paul Jacobs.



February 2, 2015

EH: Musical meaning is often deeply personal, but the essence of a piece is not. Is it possible to fully understand the music of a mystic like Messiaen without sharing his faith, without an understanding of his devotions to nature and to God ? Is the spiritual element of his music out of reach if one does not share his traditional values ?

Jacobs: Must a person hold Messiaen's religious beliefs to be moved by his work ? This is a complex question. It is possible for a listener, even an avowed atheist, to be touched by his music's charm, force, and sincerity. But if one shares Messiaen's worldview, which is not merely spiritual but religious - that is, adhering to the Catholic faith - then it seems inevitable that such an encounter would provide a deeper layer of meaning. How could it not ? The composer himself asserted that the theological dimension of his work is - and I quote - "the noblest and most useful and valuable; perhaps the only one which I will not regret at the hour of my death,".

Dwelling too emphatically upon a person's religious convictions isn't a fashionable thing to do these days. The classical music industry itself, mirroring the culture-at-large, has become highly secularized, which is another topic. It's acceptable, however, in most circles, to refer to spirituality. But the danger with this term is that it can mean anything to anyone. Its vagueness and subjectivity render it almost meaningless. Messiaen's own beliefs are grounded in a collective worldview that has endured for 2,000 years, inspiring some of our greatest art, literature, and music. Of course, one doesn't have to accept this worldview, but perhaps it shouldn't be dismissed as inconsequential to us, either. It might serve as a critical gateway to a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Religious and philosophical questions are inescapable, despite the increasing effort our secularized society makes to ignore or reduce their sense of urgency. Nietzsche wrote, "God is dead." More recently, the physicist Stephen Hawking declared, "Philosophy is dead." But the God question doesn't go away; nor do those concerning the human soul, the meaning and purpose of life, what happens after death, and so forth -- all are fundamental to our existence. Today, these essential questions are brushed under the carpet. They make us uncomfortable, because we’ve pursued them so deficiently.

http://www.examiner.com/article/interview-with-organist-paul-jacobs-olivier-messiaen

Can't find his performance. This is John Hong's version.