Olivier MESSIAEN (1908-1992). L.A.S., August 19, 1949, [to Virginie ZINKE-BIANCHINI]; 1 page petit in-4. A big thank you for his catalogue [Olivier Messiaen composer and rhythmist: biographical note and detailed catalogue of published works], which is marvellous. "I distributed it to the students of my classes, to the interwiewes, to the great critics, everyone found it admirably written, admirably prepared, - and it was a great help to me - because the interwiewes succeeded the interwiewes, and my memory is often failing... I have been doing overwhelming work at Tanglewood for 2 months: composition and orchestration lessons, rhythmic analysis lessons, orchestra rehearsals, etc. etc. Two or three times as much work as in Paris ! My Quatuor pour la fin de temps was a great success at Tanglew., where Koussewitzky conducted my Ascension for orchestra in a brilliant way, in front of an audience of 14.000 people (9.000 in the hall - 5.000 lying on the grass all around !) - considerable success ! [...] I have to return to Boston and New York for the Turangalila Symphony. I think it will be beautifully played ! ! »