Hi Milo,

Yes, the Abyss of Birds is from the quartet. There are numerous performances of it, most of them probably worthy. I first heard the one by Tashi, the 70's sort of hippie chamber group that had Richard Stoltzman on clarinet. I also have one that Messiaen oversaw just before his death by a quartet named for him. There is even said to be one performed by the players from the orignal performance in Stalag 8, though I've never heard it. I should point out though the sections of the piece are nameed for parts of Revelations, it is purely instrumental, was written for piano, cello, violin and clarinet.

Briffits