Un peu de Messiaen

Blogging will be light for a while, but in the meantime have a listen to this, the first movement of Messiaen's Des canyons aux étoiles... The title is "Le Désert". One of the unusual instruments is the eoliphone or wind machine. Like most pieces by Messiaen, a birdsong is heard, in this case, the hoopoe lark from the Sahara.

The miracle in music like this is however does Messiaen hold it together despite such incredible diversity of materials and means?