Often acknowledged as a composer whose works show evidences of his deep loyalty towards Catholicism, exoticism and nature, Olivier Messiaen was not only a composer and organist, but was also a great teacher who inspired his students to think clearly and differently. As a composer, he expanded the classical music tradition to include the sounds of nature and world music. As a teacher, his classes in harmony and analysis attracted towards him students of the most illustrious class, which helped to take his name beyond boundaries of his native country. His impressive list of students includes the likes of Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen and his second wife, the keyboardist Yvonne Loriod. Messiaen can be credited for developing a unique style in which he was quite innovative in blending harmony, melody, rhythm, color and orchestration. He is also known for creating a unique musical language which is characterized by its effectiveness. Though rhythmically complex, his music harmonically and melodically, drew inspiration on modes of limited transposition, which are quite apparent in his early compositions and improvisations. Read the biography given below to learn more about him.