Title: L'Ascension: Quatre Méditations Symphoniques
English title: Ascension Day: Four Symphonic Meditations for the Organ
Genre: organ
Composition Date: 1933 (Mvts 1, 4) (Neussages); 1934 (Mvts 2, 3) (Paris)
Publisher: Leduc (Paris, 1934)
Instrumentation: organ
Duration: 30 minutes
Premiere: Unknown.
Dedication: Unknown.
Movements:
  1. Majesté du Christ demandant sa gloire à son Père
  2. Alléluias sereins d'une âme qui désire le ciel
  3. Transports de joie d'un âme devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne
  4. Prière du Christ montant vers son Père.
Notes:
  • This version for organ is an arrangement of movements 1, 2, and 4 of L'Ascension for orchestra (1932/33). Messiaen did not think the third movement of the orchestral version ('Alléluia sur la trompette, alléluia sur la cymbale'), would transfer well to the organ so he wrote a new third movement for the organ.
Program notes:

I
Majesté du Christ demandant sa gloire à son Père
Majesty of Christ praying that His Father should glorify Him

Père, l'heure est venue, glorifie ton Fils, afin que ton Fils te glorifie.
(Prière sacerdotale du Christ, Évangile selon Saint Jean)
Father, the hour is come: glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify Thee.
(Prayer from Christ, The Gospel according to Saint John)

II
Alléluias sereins d'une âme qui désire le ciel
Serene Alleluias from a soul longing for Heaven

Nous vous en supplions, ô Dieu,... faites que nous habitons aux cieux en esprit.
(Messe de l'Ascension)
We beseech you, Almighty God, that we may in mind dwell in Heaven.
(Mass on Ascension Day)

III
Transports de joie d'un âme devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne
Outburst of joy from a soul before the glory of Christ which is its own glory

Rendons grâces à Dieu le Père, qui nous a rendus dignes d'avoir part à l'héritage des Saints dans la lumière, . . . nous a ressuscités et fait asseoir dans les cieux, en Jésus Christ.
(Saint Paul, épîtres aux Colossiens et aux Ephésiens)
Giving thanks unto The Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light . . . has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
(The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians and to the Ephesians)

IV
Prière du Christ montant vers son Père
Prayer from Christ ascending towards His Father

Père,... j'ai manifesté ton nom aux homes . . . Voilà que je ne suis plus dans le monde; mais eux sont dans le monde, et moi je vais à toi.
(Prière sacerdotale du Christ, Évangile selon Saint Jean)
And now, Father, I have manifested your name unto men . . . and now, I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I come to you.
(Christ's Prayer, from The Gospel according to Saint John)