Summary

Chapter XIV expands Messiaen's harmonic vocabulary by presenting three foundational chord types—the chord on the dominant, the chord of resonance, and the chord in fourths—each connected to specific modes of limited transpositions. The chapter demonstrates advanced coloristic techniques including resonance effects and chord clusters, analyzes how other composers' practices relate to Messiaen's framework, and provides an aesthetic manifesto positioning harmony as emerging from natural acoustic phenomena and spiritual aspiration. The extensive catalog of chord connections (Examples 230–301) grounds these theoretical concepts in practical compositional applications, demonstrating the versatility and expressive range of Messiaen's harmonic language across diverse musical contexts.