Friedemann Sallis

An introduction to the early works of György Ligeti

ISBN 978-3-89564-005-6

I. Introduction

Problems and Questions

Analytical Objectives and Methodology

Primary Source Material:

I. The revision of Nordwall's work catalogues

II. English translations of articles, reviews and critiques written by Ligeti and published in Hungary

Social-Political Context:

I. Chronicle

II. Lukács vs. Révai

III. Kodály and his School

IV. The Bartók Debate

V. Recapitulation

II. Kis szerenád [Little Serenade]

Source and Background Information

Formal Analysis

Contrapunctal Technique in Structure and Form

The Revisions

III. Weöres-dal [Weöres Songs]

Source and Background Information

The songs for solo Voice and Piano

Sándor Weöres (1913-1990)

Három Weöres-dal [Three Weöres Songs] and the unfinished song Nagypapa leszállt a tóba [Grandpa descended in the Pond]Conclusions

IV. Kantáta az ifjúság ünnepére [Cantata for a Youth Festival]

Source and Background Information

The Text

Formal Analysis

The Work in Context

The Fracture of Ligeti's Æsthetic Terms of Reference

V. Analysis of a chain of five works

Source and Background Information: Rongszonyeg [Rag Carpet]

Szonatina for piano four hands

Musica ricercata

Omaggio a G. Frescobaldi

6 Bagatell fúvósötöre [Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet]

Presentation of the Five Works as a Group

Ligeti and Bartók

Ligeti and Frescobaldi

Ligeti and Weöres

VI. Métamorphoses nocturnes [String Quartet no. 1]

Source and Background Information

Subjects and Motifs

Intermediate Form-building Processes

Formal Coherence and Ambiguity

Certain ,Tonal' Aspects of Métamorphoses nocturnes

Traces of Dodecaphonism

The String Quartet among Ligeti's Early Works

VII. Éjszaka, Reggel [Night, Morning]

Source and Background Information

ÉjszakaReggel

Formal Coherence of the Work as a WholeText/Music Relationship

VIII. Final Remarks and Conclusions

Recapitulation

The Origins of a Myth

Ligeti and Dodecaphonic Technique: 1948-1956

Ligeti's Critique of Dodecaphonism (1955) and of Serialism (1958)

Conclusions

Annex

I. Text for the Kantáta az ifjúság ünnepére by Péter Kuczka

II. The Works for A Capella Choir

III. English Translations of Articles, Reviews and Critiques written by György Ligeti and published in Hungary

IV. Catalogue of György Ligeti's Early Works (1938-1956)

Bibliography