"Les Mages"/"The Magi" from "La Nativité du Seigneur" - Olivier Messiaen; played by Piers Maxim

No.8 "Les Mages"/"The Magi" from "La Nativité du Seigneur" - Olivier Messiaen; played by Piers Maxim on the organ at Great Malvern Priory
We return to a more descriptive, pictorial form in this, the penultimate of the 9 Meditations. The melody in the pedals can be seen to be the star, leading the Magi/Wise Men, while the plodding right hand figure depicts the lolloping gait of the camels. The left hand holds sustained chords which give the whole texture a dreamy haziness - Messiaen's performance directions are "Rêveur et très modéré", "Dreamy and at a very moderate speed". The Magi and their train stop once, before setting off again on their journey, then once again, as they approach the Christ child. The registration becomes quieter and more translucent as they kneel before the baby Jesus. Messiaen wrote: "A night piece. The swaying procession of a caravan...The Wise Men approach, illuminated by grace".