1908- . French composer and organist. His
music is mystical in character, vividly
coloured, and incorporates transcriptions of
birdsong. Among his works are the Quartet for
the End of Time 1941, the large-scale
Turangalila Symphony 1949, and solo organ and
piano pieces. His theories of melody,
harmony, and rhythm, drawing on medieval and
oriental music, have inspired contemporary
composers such as Boulez and Stockhausen.