Études pour piano, Livre 1
The first six of Ligeti's eighteen piano études, composed in 1985 and premiered by Louise Sibourd in Hamburg the same year. Dedicated collectively to Pierre Boulez on his sixtieth birthday, the book was the direct fruit of Ligeti's discovery of Conlon Nancarrow's Studies for Player Piano in a Paris record shop in 1981. Confronted with Nancarrow's intricate polyrhythms — originally impossible for human performers — Ligeti set himself the challenge of adapting that complexity to the concert piano. Each étude is also informed by Central African and Afro-Caribbean rhythmic patterns encountered through ethnomusicological recordings. The six études explore: additive polyrhythm with hands on separate diatonic scales (Désordre); open-fifth harmony (Cordes à vide); blocked-key technique (Touches bloquées); aksak-influenced ostinato (Fanfares); jazz-inflected rubato arcs (Arc-en-ciel); and polytemporal lamento counterpoint (Automne à Varsovie). Published by Schott Music, 1986. NOTE: Non-public domain. Publisher: Schott Music. Not available on IMSLP.
Works in this Collection (6)
- Étude No. 1: Désordre Désordre Difficulty
- Étude No. 2: Cordes à vide Cordes à vide Difficulty
- Étude No. 3: Touches bloquées Touches bloquées Difficulty
- Étude No. 4: Fanfares Fanfares Difficulty
- Étude No. 5: Arc-en-ciel Arc-en-ciel Difficulty
- Étude No. 6: Automne à Varsovie Automne à Varsovie Difficulty