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Contemplating the end of time
We may not find a neat solution to end war and injustice, but we can dare to dream of a better world through music.
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Ukrainian musician Marta Habalevych plays her violin to raise funds for fellow refugees in Vienna on April 6, 2022.
PHOTO: AFP
Abigail Sin
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There are songs that we carry with us through life like talismans, providing us with comfort, counsel, and delight. As we grow older and come to terms with the world, the message and emotional impact of these songs take on fresh meaning in our lives.
I am a professional musician and I have carried many songs in my head and hands over the years. However, Olivier Messiaen's Quartet For The End Of Time is the only piece of music that holds this special power for me. I first encountered this monumental work in 2008 as a chamber music assignment at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. At 16, I was in awe of the ingenuity and complexity of the music and overwhelmed by its weighty context and Messiaen's extraordinary personal response.
