Music for the End of Time

by Jen Bryant

Presents the story of how French composer Olivier Messiaen was able to overcome the desolation of a World War II prison camp through the power of music.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, History, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2005

About the author

Jen Bryant (Jennifer Fisher Bryant) writes picture books, novels and poems for readers of all ages. Her biographical picture book: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet,received a Caldecott Honor award and her historical novel in verse RINGSIDE 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial is an Oprah Recommended Book for ages 12 & up. Other titles include Pieces of Georgia (IRA Young Adult Choices Pick), The Trial (about the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial), a 1960’s-era novel Kaleidoscope Eyes (a Jr. Library Guild selection), Georgia’s Bones, celebrating the creative vision of artist Georgia O’Keeffe, Music for the End of Time, based on a true story about WWII, and Abe’s Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln.

Jen has taught writing and Children’s Literature at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College and gives lectures, workshops and school presentations throughout the year. She lives with husband, daughter and their Springer Spaniel in Chester County, PA.

Reviews

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the music teachers--based on the true story of Olivier Messiaen ("one of the most respected and influential composers of the 20th century") this brief and beautifully illustrated narrative depicts the facts around his "Quartet for the End of Time" that he composed in a German prison camp in WWII. Would be nice to read the story, the Author's Note, and listen to the music (not included but easily found online). I did, and I enjoyed listening for the "birdcalls" that incorporated into the piece and that inspired it as well.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetic biography of French composer Olivier Messiaen and how he used music to help him survive in a World War II prison camp. Too intense for most children, unless they have a strong interest in orchestral music.

[Kyle Milbrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool story of his interesting time in a prison camp.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music for the End of Time is the story about the time that French composer Olivier Messiaen spent as a prisoner of war in *Stalag VIIIA, in Görlitz, Germany. It begins with his arrival at the camp, clutching a knapsack. After the prisoners are settled into their barracks, cold, tired and hungry, one of the other prisoners wants to know if there is food in Olivier’s knapsack. Grabbing the bag, the other prisoners discover there is only sheet music in it. Disappointed, they go back to their bunks.

Not long after his arrival, while Olivier is listening to the morning birdsong, a prison guard comes over and tells the composer to follow him. He takes in to a small, cold room off a lavatory, and tells Messiaen that he may come here for a while every day and compose his music.

At first, nothing comes to Messiaen. He feels discouraged, believing no one will hear anything he creates. One day, a new truckload of prisoners arrive, two of whom are carrying instruments. Inspired by the sight of these musicians, Messiaen soon begins a composition based on the birdsong he can hear, even in prison.

Late in the winter, Messiaen finishes his composition, and on January 14, 1941, along with three other prisoner musicians, performs his newly written composition, Quartet for the End of Time, for all the 5,000 prisoners in the camp, as well as the German guards.

This was a lovely story accompanied by the beautiful pastel illustrations done by Beth Peck and I highly recommend it, despite some criticism. The author focuses only on the story of Messiaen’s musical creation, which is fine. I think, however, she leaves out some biographical information that might be interesting to know. Messiaen was a prisoner of war; he was not in the same kind of camp that Jews and other enemies of the Reich were put into. She says he survived the war, but he really spent one year as a prisoner of war, from May 1940 to May 1941. In her Author’s Note, Bryant does explain that the piece Messiaen wrote was called “Quartet for the End of Time" and it is based on a passage from the Books of Revelations, when an angel announces “There will be no more time.”

This book is recommended for readers age 9-12.
This book was borrowed from the Yorkville Branch of the NYPL.

Music for the End of Time received the following well-deserved honors:
2006 Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year
2006 Cooperative Children's Book Center, CCBC Choices List
2006 Society of Illustrators "The Original Art" Annual Exhibition

More information about Music for the End of Time, including a link to a very useful discussion guide may be found Jen Bryant Books

More information about Olivier Messiaen may be found at The Olivier Messiaen Page

An a short sample of Quartet for the End of Time may be seen and heard at YouTube
*Stalag is an acronym for Stammlager, which is a prisoner of war camp for soldiers not including any officers

[JaNeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story based on the life of composer Olivier Messiaen. It is one of those picture books written to readers of all ages--perhaps the older even more than the younger. The story takes place during World War II in a German prison camp, but the hardships are understated and, therefore, it is not too scary. This story speaks to the power of music and to the fact that we can never be stripped of what lies inside of us. Powerful and moving, touching and hopeful!

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the true story of French composer Oscar Messiaen, who composed music even while he was interned in a German prisoner of war camp during World War I. An inspiring story, which made me want to hear some of his music!

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of the years French composer Olivier Messiaean spent in a German prisoner-of-war camp inspires on many levels- the drive to create, the potential for humane treatment in the worst of situations, the power of inspiration, and the potential for music(art) to nourish the soul.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful story - I wish it had been marketed with a cd of the music the author refers to (Quartet for the end of time).

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story of French composer Olivier Messiaen, beautifully illustrated by Beth Peck (a personal favorite). The power of music even in (perhaps especially in) a World War II prison camp.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

WWII German POW camp

[Katrina Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non fiction. Power of music over darkness. Messiaen quartet for the end of time. WWII. Jr high or high school age.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Picture book to add to the collection of composers or WWII prison camps. I need to listen to this composition.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tells the story but doesn't really inspire the reader to go hear the music. Illustrations are average.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book. I have a son who loves history, especially civil war and WWII. This touches on the internment camps of the Nazi regime but in a gentle way that young kids can understand. The story of the composer who writes his song throughout his stay in the camp is a beautiful story of hope and perseverance. Great book!

[Georgia Herod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryant is a writer, poet, biographer and author of books for children and young adult readers. She’s a picture book biographer, introducing young readers to men and women they are not likely to routinely encounter: Georgia O’Keeffe and Olivier Messiaen (Mays-YUN), French composer.

While imprisoned in a German prison camp, in the middle of Messiaen's loneliness and deep discouragement, a bird song transports him away and inspires him to compose.

What good is music in a prison camp, others wonder. Watching and listening, he hears and sees a nightingale. He says, “In my hour of gloom, when I am suddenly aware of my own futility . . . what is left for me but to seek out the true, lost face of music somewhere off in the forest . . . among the birds.”

And so he begins to compose—in a most unusual studio—the toilet! One day a truck load of new prisoners arrived, including three who were musicians. And that was the beginning of a transformation of Messiaen’s heart and the atmosphere of the camp. Mesmerized by the beauty of the music, the prisoners swelled with hope. The power of music and beauty to transform lives!

Beth Peck's illustrations are subdued and evocative of the atmosphere of the prison camp.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of Olivier Messiaen who was a French composer, and who was detained in a German prison camp during World War II. He took with him a knapsack filled with his sheets of music. Early one morning Olivier heard a nightingale singing. Those musical notes gave him hope. A German guard, upon finding out that Olivier was a composer, offered him a small room in which he could write his music a few hours every day. Other musicians were detained in the same camp and they got together to play tunes.
This is a very interesting story about a man who was taken from his home, his family, his music, and who created new music in a prison camp. He didn't think there would be any use for music there, but what resulted is quite amazing.

The illustrations in this book are all dark hues to aptly capture the era and mood of the story.
Beautifully done!