The composer Olivier Messiaen was born 100 years ago today. Another "living large" Sagittarius. This past summer, I downloaded Des Canyons aux Etoiles ("From the Canyons to the Stars") so I could listen to it as we toured and hiked through Bryce, Zion and Cedar Breaks National Parks in southern Utah, the source of his musical inspiration.
While it's not what I would describe as "easy listening" music (the rest of the people in the car were not appreciative), I did enjoy the harmonies and wind machine parts. We were staying above 9,000 ft. on our trip and got caught in an early summer snowstorm. Being at that altitude, the wind howled most of the time we were there. It made me appreciate how music can express non-verbally what it's like to be in a particular place and can so accurately mimic elements of nature. It's a powerful artistic medium. I guess you could say Messiaen encouraged me to listen to music differently...to listen beyond lyricism and melody, and focus on other attributes.
As Messiaen described:
"Whenever I hear music or read music, I see colors...the piece I composed about Bryce Canyon is red and orange...the color of the cliffs." 
"I give bird songs to those who dwell in cities and have never heard them, make rhythms for those who know only military marches or jazz, and paint colors for those who see none."
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