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77K views 333 replies 110 participants last post by  Richannes Wrahms 
#1 ·
Ligeti anyone?

Today I decided to listen to some pieces I hadn't listened to in a long time, and there he was, in the bottom of huge pile of CDs and scores, Ligeti. Right now I'm listening to his Chamber concerto for 13 instrumentalists and I realize: I like him even more than before.

Other important Ligeti suggestions:

-Melodien

-Piano concerto

-Atmospheres

-Lontano

-San Francisco Polyphony

-Musica Ricercata

-Etudes pour piano (3 volumes)

-both his String Quartets

-Lux Aeterna

-Apparitions

-Violin concerto
 
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#166 · (Edited)
Since György Ligeti (1923-2006) is quite mentioned recently, I thought that it would be interesting to have a list with all his pieces and corresponding youtube videos, for those who are interested in his works, but they don't know where to start.
I will make the list in chronological order, mentioning the different styles and 'phases' of his compositions.

Early pieces, Bartok and modes(1950-1960):
-Due capricci (1947) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_capricci_(Ligeti))

-Baladă şi joc (Ballad and Dance), for two violins (1950) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baladă_şi_joc)

-Concert românesc (1951)

-Sonata for Solo Cello (1948/1953), (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonata_for_Solo_Cello_(Ligeti))

-Musica ricercata (1951-1953), (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musica_ricercata)
(the rest of the pieces will appear in the 'related videos' section of youtube)
-Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet (1953) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musica_ricercata)

-Andante and Allegretto, for string quartet (1950)

-String Quartet No. 1 Métamorphoses nocturnes (1953-54) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No._1_(Ligeti))

-Chromatische Phantasie (1956)

Towards micropolyphony, humour, electronic, colour (1960-1980):
-Apparitions (1958-59)

-Electronic music: Glissandi (1957), Artikulation (1958)

-Atmosphères (1961) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphères)

-Volumina (1961-62, revised 1966)

-Poème Symphonique, for 100 metronomes (1962) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poème_Symphonique)

-Aventures (1962)

-Nouvelles Aventures (1962-65)

-Requiem (1963-65)

-Cello Concerto (1966)

-Lux Aeterna (1966) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lux_Aeterna_(György_Ligeti))

-Two Studies for Organ: Harmonies (1967), Coulée (1969)


-Lontano (1967)

-Ramifications (1968-69)

-Chamber Concerto (1969-70)

-String Quartet No. 2 (1968) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No._2_(Ligeti))

-Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet (1968)

-Continuum (1970) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_(Ligeti))

-Melodien (1971)

-Double Concerto (1972)
no video :( (it's a great work)
-San Francisco Polyphony (1973-74)

-Clocks and Clouds (1973)

-Le Grand Macabre (1975-77)

-Passacaglia ungherese (1978)

-Hungarian Rock (Chaconne) (1978)

-Three Pieces for Two Pianos (1976)

-Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano (1982) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trio_for_Violin,_Horn_and_Piano_(Ligeti))

-Hommage à Hilding Rosenberg, for violin and cello (1982)

Late period, polyrhythms (1980-2006):
-Études pour piano, Book 1, six etudes (1985) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Études_(Ligeti))
(1, 3 and 6)
(2)
(4)
(5)
-Three Fantasies After Friedrich Hölderlin (1982)

-Three hungarian etudes(1983)

-Piano Concerto (1980-88) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_(Ligeti))


-Der Sommer, voice and piano (1989)

-Études pour piano, Book 2, eight etudes (1988-94)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10, the second in the video)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
-Nonsense madrigals, for 6 male voices (1988-1993)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
-Violin Concerto (1989-93) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_Concerto_(Ligeti))
(first and second movement only)
(all movements)
-Sonata for Solo Viola (1991-94)

-Études pour piano, Book 3, four etudes (1995-2001)
(15)
(16)
no video for the others
-Hamburg Concerto (1998-99, revised 2002) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg_Concerto)


-Síppal, dobbal, nádihegedűvel (With Pipes, Drums, Fiddles) (2000) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Síppal,_dobbal,_nádihegedüvel)


I have skipped some very early choral works, you can hear them in the continuation of the videos of the nonsense madrigals.
:tiphat:
 
#167 ·
Since György Ligeti (1923-2006) is quite mentioned recently, I thought that it would be interesting to have a list with all his pieces and corresponding youtube videos, for those who are interested in his works, but they don't know where to start.
I will make the list in chronological order, mentioning the different styles and 'phases' of his compositions.

Early pieces, Bartok and modes(1950-1960):
-Due capricci (1947) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_capricci_(Ligeti))

-Baladă şi joc (Ballad and Dance), for two violins (1950) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baladă_şi_joc)

-Concert românesc (1951)

-Sonata for Solo Cello (1948/1953), (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonata_for_Solo_Cello_(Ligeti))

-Musica ricercata (1951-1953), (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musica_ricercata)
(the rest of the pieces will appear in the 'related videos' section of youtube)
-Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet (1953) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musica_ricercata)

-Andante and Allegretto, for string quartet (1950)

-String Quartet No. 1 Métamorphoses nocturnes (1953-54) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No._1_(Ligeti))

-Chromatische Phantasie (1956)

Towards micropolyphony, humour, electronic, colour (1960-1980):
-Apparitions (1958-59)

-Electronic music: Glissandi (1957), Artikulation (1958)

-Atmosphères (1961) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphères)

-Volumina (1961-62, revised 1966)

-Poème Symphonique, for 100 metronomes (1962) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poème_Symphonique)

-Aventures (1962)

-Nouvelles Aventures (1962-65)

-Requiem (1963-65)

-Cello Concerto (1966)

-Lux Aeterna (1966) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lux_Aeterna_(György_Ligeti))

-Two Studies for Organ: Harmonies (1967), Coulée (1969)


-Lontano (1967)

-Ramifications (1968-69)

-Chamber Concerto (1969-70)

-String Quartet No. 2 (1968) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No._2_(Ligeti))

-Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet (1968)

-Continuum (1970) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_(Ligeti))

-Melodien (1971)

-Double Concerto (1972)
no video :( (it's a great work)
-San Francisco Polyphony (1973-74)

-Clocks and Clouds (1973)

-Le Grand Macabre (1975-77)

-Passacaglia ungherese (1978)

-Hungarian Rock (Chaconne) (1978)

-Three Pieces for Two Pianos (1976)

-Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano (1982) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trio_for_Violin,_Horn_and_Piano_(Ligeti))

-Hommage à Hilding Rosenberg, for violin and cello (1982)

Late period, polyrhythms (1980-2006):
-Études pour piano, Book 1, six etudes (1985) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Études_(Ligeti))
(1, 3 and 6)
(2)
(4)
(5)
-Piano Concerto (1980-88) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_(Ligeti))


-Études pour piano, Book 2, eight etudes (1988-94)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10, the second in the video)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
-Nonsense madrigals, for 6 male voices (1988-1993)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
-Violin Concerto (1989-93) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_Concerto_(Ligeti))
(first and second movement only)
(all movements)
-Sonata for Solo Viola (1991-94)

-Études pour piano, Book 3, four etudes (1995-2001)
(15)
(16)
no video for the others
-Hamburg Concerto (1998-99, revised 2002) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg_Concerto)


-Síppal, dobbal, nádihegedűvel (With Pipes, Drums, Fiddles) (2000) (wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Síppal,_dobbal,_nádihegedüvel)


I have skipped some very early choral works, you can hear them in the continuation of the videos of the nonsense madrigals.
:tiphat:
You sir, are a dedicated Ligeti promoter.
 
#172 · (Edited)
Well, I always recommend the classics:
-Lux Aeterna
-Atmospheres
-Requiem
(these were used in Kubrick's movie '2001: a space odyssey')
Also:
-Clocks and Clouds
-Piano concerto
-Piano etudes
-nonsense madrigals
All of these pieces will give you a general idea of Ligeti's main musical ideas.
If you look for 'accessible pieces', 'non-dissonant' (whatever), you can check his early pieces.
 
#184 ·
Hello Ligeti Fans out there,

I joined this forum for a month now. And I, a wig dinosaur, have enjoyed the good talks here. There is lots of inspiration for new music, and the change to recommend works to others. I like it a lot. There are some very enthousiastic fans of mr. Ligeti here, and I was thinking: I'll broaden my horizon. I recently bought some cd's from modern composers such as James MacMillan, Glass, Gorecki (not his third symphony but the more dissonant alleluah and some more).

I liked most of the pieces - although they will not get to my daily playlist, my mind would explode if I heard them too often. I can listen to harpsichord concerto's all day, but these modern works consume my concentration. Considering my more baroque background, what would you recommend for a not too atonal very heavy and way too complicated for my simple mind Ligeti-for-Wig-lovers piece? Where do I start?
 
#185 · (Edited)
Try the wind quintet pieces. Sonata for solo cello is another beautiful piece. These are on disc one of the Clear Or Cloudy box on the DG label. I'm sure you can find them on YouTube.

You might want to look into the music of Alfred Schnittke as well. There are many traditional elements, excerpts, etc. weaving through his modern pieces. Concerto For Piano And Strings is a good starting point.
 
#192 ·
The etudes (I liked them, especially number two) I've listened brought the youtube suggestion of this organ piece: it is great.

I noticed that however the solo piano genre of the etudes (which I would qualify as background music if it were tonal music) they are not at all easy listening. However: it just takes a lot of concentration and the appreciation will come in slowly. I will listen some of them again this evening, but will prepare with some absolutely sweet harmonies of the voice by Clemens non Papa - to prepare the ears for the violent chords later on the evening :)
 
#193 · (Edited)
Why all these recommendations of the bagatelles?. I think they are not representative of Ligeti's musical ideas. I always recommend the classics, Atmospheres, Lux Aeterna, Requiem, for someone who don't know nothing about Ligeti.

(although, to be fair, I'm not a very big fan of 'musica ricercata', so my opinion is biased)
 
#194 · (Edited)
Why all these recommendations of the bagatelles?. I think they are not representative of Ligeti's musical ideas.
How are they not representative of his musical ideas? He, as any good composer, had many musical ideas, and his pieces all deal with different aspects of those musical ideas. I think what you are actually saying is that they are not representative of your conception of his musical ideas.

P.S.: Might as well say it again - musical ideas.
 
#201 ·
Yes, this is closer to what I think. A better phrase to express what I was thinking is that MR is not the most interesting representative of Ligeti's musical ideas. I think some of the ideas are developed in far more interesting ways in other pieces by him. For example, BD says 'experimental nature, his imagination in manipulating musical materials in very new and interesting ways'. Yes, it's true. But I find that this aspect is more consistently, and more interestingly, developed in the set of piano etudes. Every etude develops a new and interesting idea (besides the ubiquitous polyrhythms). BD says 'his clever sense of humor', and yes, there's humor in MR. But I think that the nonsense madrigals or the second movement of the violin concerto are the most clever examples. BD says 'his unique ideas about rhythms', again, yes, there are some which are 'rhythmical', like the piece number VIII, which is nice and that I enjoy. But what a better example like the set of piano etudes for the listener who is interested in Ligeti's ideas about rhythm.
For all these reasons, I would recommend the pieces I mentioned instead of MR. That's just my personal opinion and you are welcome to disagree of course.
 
#199 ·
Sorry - going to be contentious.
Earlier poster calls 'Atmospheres' one of Ligeti's classics. It stared the Prom last night of otherwise beautiful music, & although I was quite prepared to give it a go, as I am with nearly all modern music, I found it quite incomprehensible, and unrecognisable as 'music' at all, not least the brass players just breathing into their instruments with no instrument sound at all.
If that makes me stupid & ignorant..I'll settle for it; to me it's like Tracey Emin's unmade bed....a con trick !

Sorry; have fun demolishing this post !
 
#200 ·
While Tracey Emin's bed is debatable... while Tracey Emin in general is debatable, Atmospheres has simply introduced you to means of expression that you are familiar with, namely microtonal polyphony and the deep exploration of timbre central to the piece. To put it another way, and to use one of your own example; the brass players blowing but making "no instrument sound" were still producing a sound, just with a different timbre to the one you were expecting. The piece is built around subtle timbral shifts, something which may be quite alien to someone not familiar with much post-Schoenberg 20th century music, and which you may find more comprehensible in this piece by Takemitsu which does not employ a "wall of sound" type construction.

So instead, cjv, why not try the Bagatelles for Wind Quintet, which are jovial and very accessible, and Musica Ricercata* which begins restricted to two notes - a new note is added in each piece, gradually reaching a fully chromatic finale.

*Since for some reason Sony has blocked these pieces from being played in a playlist on YouTube (I'm really not sure what difference it makes, but that's the music industry for you!), I'm going to link all the pieces right here.

No. 1: Sostenuto
No. 2: Mesto, rigido e ceremoniale
No. 3: Allegro con spirito
No. 4: Tempo di valse
No. 5: Rubato. Lamentoso
No. 6: Allegro molto capriccioso
No. 7: Cantabile, molto legato
No. 8: Vivace. Energico
No. 9: Béla Bartók in Memoriam
No. 10: Vivace. Capriccioso
No. 11: Ormaggio a Girolamo Frescobaldi
 
#204 ·
Hair Chin Smile Eyelash Musical instrument


I've always liked the way she plays the Études; and I'm glad she took the liberty, as Sviatoslav Richter did on many of his recordings, of selecting certain ones, and thus creating a CD that is eminently listenable.
 
#212 ·
I love Ligeti. He was one of the first composers I got hooked on, after Bartok and Ravel. My favorite work of his happens to be the "Cello Concerto" because it contains some of the most ground-breaking and truly modern sounds I have ever heard. In fact, the end of the second movement MAY in fact be the most "ahead of its time" section of music that I have had the pleasure to listen to and analyze. It is far beyond tonality and also far beyond serialism and strict atonality. It is something that popular music will not embrace for 200-300 years probably. Even jazz won't embrace it for 50-100 years likely.
 
#213 ·
^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm listening to disc 3 of Clear Or Cloudy this morning. I put it on for the reasons you articulated, because I haven't found all that many interesting cello concertos. In fact, everything on this disc is very interesting, including the chamber concerto, Mysteries Of The Macabre, and the beautiful double concerto.
 
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