Biography of György Ligeti (1923-2006)

28.05.1923
Born in Dicsőszentmárton
Piano lessons and first compositions being a schoolboy in Cluj
1941
Music theory and organ at the Klausenburg conservatory, as he was not allowed to study physics, being a Jew
Father and brohter die in concentration camps, his mother survives Auschwitz.
1945
Studies of composition with Sándor Veress, Pál Járdányi and Ferenc Farkas in Budapest (music theory and organ), as he was a jew and not allowed to study physics. At entrance examination acquaintance with the testee Kurtag, who later became a real friend of him.
1949
Orchestration of old hungarian dances, commissioned by the broadcasting company Régi magyar társas táncok for flute, clarinet and orchestra
1950
For six years teacher at Budapest conservatory
1953
Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet
1956
Escape to Vienna during the rebellion in Hungary. Arrangement of six moevements from the piano suite Musica ricercata for woodwind quintet.
1957
Work at Darmstädter Ferienkurse and at the electronic studio of WDR.
1961
Guest teacher at the Royal Music College in Stockholm.
1968
10 Pieces for Woodwind Quintet, commissioned by the wood wind quintet of the Stockholm Philharmonics
06.10.1969
Premier of the Six Bagatelles in Södertälje (Sweden) by the wind quintet of the Stockholm Philharmonicx
1969
Move to Berlin
1972
Composer in Residence at Stanford University, California. Composition of the Doouble Concerto for flute, oboe and orchestra
1973
Lectorship for composition at Hamburg conservatory
12.06.2006
Dies in Vienna

Sheet music for flute:

10 Stücke für Bläserquintett
edition on amazonCD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute/alto flute/piccolo, oboe/english horn, clarinet in H flat, bassoon, horn double horn F/B flat)
Schott Verlag, Ed 6318
Rating: difficult
  1. Molto sostenuto e calmo
  2. Prestissimo minaccioso e burlesco
  3. Lento
  4. Prestissimo leggiero e virtuoso
  5. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero
  6. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero
  7. Vivo energico
  8. Allegro con delicatezza
  9. Sostenuto stridente
  10. Presto bizzarro e rubato
Parts. The score is available separately.
Really complicated, even the notation. Every part is full of annotations around the music notation.
Written in December 1968. Ligeti started with the idea to write for a concert like movement for each of the five instruments. During work on this opus it grew and thus there are ten movements now, as after each solo movement there is a ensemble movement.
The last movements ends in a grand pause of ten seconds and with a citation from "Alice in wonderland" by Lewis Caroll.
10 Stücke für Bläserquintett
edition on amazonCD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute/alto flute/piccolo, oboe/english horn/Oboe d'amore, clarinet, bassoon, horn)
Schott Verlag, ED 6304
Rating: very difficult
  1. Molto sostenuto e calmo
  2. Prestissimo minaccioso e burleso
  3. Lento
  4. Prestissimo leggiero e virtuoso
  5. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero
  6. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero
  7. Vivo, energico
  8. Allegro con delicatezza
  9. Sostenuto, stridente
  10. Presto bizzarro e rubato, so schnell wie möglich
Score
Alte ungarische Gesellschaftstänze
edition on amazonCD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, clarinet, string orchestra)
Schott Verlag, CON 188-50
Rating: difficult
  1. Andante
  2. Allegro - Trio (pochissimo meno mosso) - Allegro
  3. Andantino maestoso (un poco grave)
  4. Allegro moderato
This is a set of parts. Singular parts are no longer available (only the complete set). This set includes flute, clarinet, five times violin I and five times violin II, viola and cello three times each and two times the double bass. A score is separately available. The piece can also be played without the woodwinds. For this the parts of violin I and II include an addition.
Alte ungarische Gesellschaftstänze
edition on amazonCD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, clarinet, string orchestra)
Schott Verlag, CON 188
Rating: difficult
  1. Andante (Janos Bihari, 1825)
  2. Allegro (Janos Bihari) - Trio (pochissimo meno mosso) Allegro
  3. Andantino maestoso (un poco grave)
  4. Allegro moderato (Janos Bihari, 1808)
This is the score, including also the edition for strings without woodwinds. A set of parts is separately available.
Sechs Bagatellen
CD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet in H flat, bassoon, horn in F)
Schott Verlag, Ed 6407
Rating: difficult
  1. Allegro con spirito
  2. Rubato. Lamentoso
  3. Allegro grazioso
  4. Presto ruvido
  5. Adagio. Mesto
  6. Molto vivace. Capriccioso
Premiere in Sweden played by the woodwind quintet of the Stockholm Philharmonics on the 6th of Octobre 1969.
Sechs Bagatellen - aus Musica ricercata
edition on amazonCD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet in H flat, bassoon, horn in F)
Schott Verlag, ED 6409
Rating: difficult
  1. Allegro con spirito
  2. Rubato. Lamentoso
  3. Allegro grazioso
  4. Presto ruvido
  5. Adagio mesto - Allegro maestoso
  6. Molto vivace. Capriccioso.
This is the score. The parts are available in a different edition.
This one of only a few compositions the composer was able to take with him on his flight from Hungary to Austria. Written between 1951 and 1953. This is a part of the Musica ricercata for piano (eleven movements in total). Each movement adds one note of the chromatic scale.

CDs with/from György Ligeti

Les Vents Français
20th-Century Wind Quintets (2014)
Barber - Hindemith - Ligeti - Veress - Zemlinsky
jpc
Warner Classics
    György Ligeti: 6 Bagatelles:
  1. Allegro con spirito (01:12:00)
  2. Rubato lamentoso (03:22:00)
  3. Allegro grazioso (00:00:01)
  4. Presto ruvido (01:00:00)
  5. Adagio mesto (Béla Bartók in memoriam) (02:29:00)
  6. Molto vivace (Capriccioso) (01:34:00)
  7. Alexander Zemlinsky: Humoreske (04:18:00)
  8. Samuel Barber: Summer Music Op. 31 (11:38:00)
    9. Sándor Veress: Sonatina for oboe, clarinet and bassoon:
  9. Allegro giocoso (02:16:00)
  10. Andante - Allegretto - Tempo I (03:19:00)
  11. Grave - Allegrissimo (03:16:00)
    12. Paul Hindemith: Kleine Kammermusik Op. 24 No.2:
  12. Lustig. Mäßig schnelle Viertel (03:00:00)
  13. Walzer. Durchweg sehr leise (01:52:00)
  14. Ruhig und einfach. Achtel (04:27:00)
  15. Schnelle Viertel (00:48:00)
  16. Sehr lebhaft (03:03:00)
Quintetto Arnold
Carter - Donatoni - Kurtag - Ligeti  (1990)
jpc
Stradivarius
    Elliott Carter: Woodwind Quintet (1948), to Mademoiselle Nadia Boulanger:
  1. Allegretto (03:53:00)
  2. Allegro giocoso (03:46:00)
  3. Franco Donatoni: Blow, per quintetto di strumenti a fiato (1989), al Quintetto Arnold (12:56:00)
    4. György Kurtág: Quintetto per fiati op. 2 (1959):
  4. Lento - Piu lento (00:40:00)
  5. Agiato (00:55:00)
  6. Vivo (00:59:00)
  7. Molto sostenuto (02:05:00)
  8. Rubato improvvisando (02:28:00)
  9. Mesto - attacca (00:58:00)
  10. Rubato molto agitato (00:57:00)
    11. Elliott Carter: Eight Etudes and a Fantasy for woodwind quartet (1949) for Richard Franko Goldman:
  11. Maestoso (01:08:00)
  12. Quietly (01:00:00)
  13. Adagio possibile (01:13:00)
  14. Vivace (01:52:00)
  15. Andante (01:59:00)
  16. Allegretto leggero (02:32:00)
  17. Intensely (01:06:00)
  18. Presto (01:44:00)
  19. Fantasy - tempo giusto (05:37:00)
    20. György Ligeti: Zehn Stücke für Bläserquintett (1968) to the wind quintet of the Stockholm Philharmonic:
  20. Molto sostenuto e calmo (00:00:02)
  21. Prestissimo minaccioso e burlesco (00:46:00)
  22. Lento (00:00:01)
  23. Prestissimo leggiero e virtuoso (00:55:00)
  24. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero (00:32:00)
  25. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero (01:14:00)
  26. Vivo, energico (01:08:00)
  27. Allegro con delicatezza (02:43:00)
  28. Sostenuto, stridente (01:12:00)
  29. Presto, bizzarro e rubato (00:56:00)
Albert Schweitzer Quintett
György Ligeti - György Kurtag - Sandor Veress - Wind Music (1996)
jpc
cpo
    György Ligeti: Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintett (1953):
  1. Allegro con spirito (01:13:00)
  2. Rubato - Lamentoso (03:11:00)
  3. Allegro grazioso (02:42:00)
  4. Presto ruvido (01:02:00)
  5. Adagio - Mesto (Bela Bartok in memoriam) (02:30:00)
  6. Molto vivace - Capriccioso (01:22:00)
    7. György Kurtág: Wind Quintet op. 2 (1959):
  7. Lento (00:45:00)
  8. Agitato (00:58:00)
  9. Vivo (00:58:00)
  10. Molto sostenuto (01:27:00)
  11. Rubato, improvisando (02:22:00)
  12. Grave, ma con slancio (00:55:00)
  13. Mesto (00:49:00)
  14. Rubato, molto agitato (00:39:00)
    15. György Ligeti: Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet (1968):
  15. Molto sosstenuto e calmo (02:26:00)
  16. Prestissimo minaccioso e burlesco (00:52:00)
  17. Lento (01:49:00)
  18. Prestissimo leggiero e virtuoso (00:53:00)
  19. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero (01:17:00)
  20. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero (01:17:00)
  21. Vivo, energico (01:07:00)
  22. Allegro con delicatezza (02:44:00)
  23. Sostenuto, stridente (01:18:00)
  24. Presto bizzarro e rubato (01:15:00)
    25. Sándor Veress: Sonata for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon (1931):
  25. Allegro giocoso (02:18:00)
  26. Andante - Allegretto - Tempo I (03:26:00)
  27. Grave-Allegrissimo (03:06:00)
    28. Sándor Veress: Diptych for Wind Quintet (1968):
  28. Dark (Andante) (05:30:00)
  29. Figuras floszkulusok szeniesburdonon (Allegro) (04:05:00)
Ozan Çakar, Asko Ensemble, Berliner Philharmoniker, Thomas Bernstein, Simon Breyer, Heinz Holliger, Sybille Mahni, Marie-Luise Neunecker, Jonathen Nott, Schönberg Ensemble, Jacques Zoon
György Ligeti - The Ligeti Project (CD 4) (2008)
jpc
WERGO Schallplatten GmbH
    Hamburg Concerto:
  1. Präludium (02:47:00)
  2. Signale, Tanz, Choral (01:35:00)
  3. Aria, Aksak, Hoketus (01:05:00)
  4. Solo, Intermezzo, Mixtur, Kanon (04:24:00)
  5. Spectra (02:32:00)
  6. Capriccio (01:09:00)
  7. Hymnus (01:18:00)
    8. Double Concerto:
  8. Calmo, con tenerezza (08:31:00)
  9. Allegro corrente (07:48:00)
  10. Ramifications (08:00:00)
    11. Requiem:
  11. Introtus, Sostenuto (05:39:00)
  12. Kyrie. Molto espressivo (06:35:00)
  13. Requiem (08:34:00)
    14. ReqLacrimosa. Molto lentouiem:
  14.  (05:32:00)
Gotland Wind Quintet
Wind Pieces (1998)
Proprius Musik AB
    Pavel Haas: Wind Quintet op. 10:
  1. I. Preludio. Andante ma vivace (03:08:00)
  2. II. Preghiera. Misterioso e triste (04:22:00)
  3. III. Ballo eccentrico. Ritmo marcato (02:17:00)
  4. IV. Epilogo. Maestoso (03:38:00)
    5. Ray Naessen: Ikaros:
  5. I. Energico (02:46:00)
  6. II. Allegro (04:17:00)
  7. III. Molto tranquillo (04:08:00)
  8. IV. Allegro scherzo (02:00:00)
  9. V. Tranquillo cantabile (02:43:00)
  10. VI. Allegro (00:47:00)
    11. György Ligeti: Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintett (1953):
  11. I. Allegro con spirito (01:08:00)
  12. II. Rubato - Lamentoso (03:15:00)
  13. III. Allegro grazioso (02:30:00)
  14. IV. Presto ruvido (00:59:00)
  15. V. Adagio - Mesto (02:20:00)
  16. VI. Molto vivace - Capriccioso (01:15:00)
  17. Tony Blomdahl: Primo (05:42:00)
    18. Sven-David Sandström: Wind Pieces:
  18. Part I (01:50:00)
  19. Par II (03:32:00)
  20. Part III (02:29:00)
  21. Part IV (03:29:00)
  22. Part V (02:21:00)
Exklusives für Bläserquintett. Der Haas war eine Entdeckung für mich, sehr schön. Das einzige sehr bekannte ist der Ligeti. Ikaros ist in großen Teilen sehr lyrisch und choralartig gehalten. Wie bei dem Thema (junger Mann stürzt sich aus Übermut zu Tode) nicht anders zu erwarten eher dunkle Stimmungen. Rund gespielt.

Literature von/über György Ligeti

Last edit 29.12.2020