Three Favorite Ligeti Orchestral Works

[EigenUser]

I almost didn't include the "Concert Romanesc", but I figured that I'd catch hell if I went through with that. Hey -- at least I didn't split up movements this time!

I vote for "Clocks and Clouds", "San Francisco Polyphony", and "Piano Concerto".

I'm sure that you all know what I'm rooting for .

[EigenUser]

I almost didn't include the "Concert Romanesc", but I figured that I'd catch hell if I went through with that. Hey -- at least I didn't split up movements this time!

I vote for "Clocks and Clouds", "San Francisco Polyphony", and "Piano Concerto".

I'm sure that you all know what I'm rooting for .

Hold your horses! I screwed it up and allowed only one vote. It won't let me edit the allowed number of votes, so it looks like I have to start over...

EDIT: Fixed

And now... let the rumpus start!

[bwv 1080]

Atmospheres, Lontano and Clocks & Clouds

Honorable mention to the double, piano and cello concertos

[Ken B]

Hold your horses! I screwed it up and allowed only one vote. It won't let me edit the allowed number of votes, so it looks like I have to start over...

EDIT: Fixed

And now... let the rumpus start!

Ahem. I notice the absence of a certain yellow fruit.

[EigenUser]

Ahem. I notice the absence of a certain yellow fruit.

"A Certain Yellow Fruit"? Never heard of it. Is it one of his earlier works?

[Mirror Image]

Lontano, Clock & Clouds, and Melodien for me. Honorable mentions to San Francisco Polyphony, Requiem, and the concerti for violin and piano.

[EigenUser]

Lots of great stuff here, with much to choose from .. but since I've been with this composer for a long time; I'll boil it down to my single favorite. Melodien

"Melodien" is amazing -- so many expressive individual lines that form a wonderful web of polyphonic sound. My purchase of that score a couple of months ago was one of the best purchases of my life . Well, musical purchases, at least. It's great fun to follow along with while listening.

[EigenUser]

Lontano, Clock & Clouds, and Melodien for me. Honorable mentions to San Francisco Polyphony, Requiem, and the concerti for violin and piano.

If I were to expand this to my top five, I'd add "Melodien" and "Lontano". Then perhaps the chamber, violin, and horn concertos.

Just out of curiosity (it isn't exactly an orchestral work), what do you guys think of the "Aventures"?

[North Star]

If I were to expand this to my top five, I'd add "Melodien" and "Lontano". Then perhaps the chamber, violin, and horn concertos.

Hmm, I haven't heard the Horn Concerto.
I'll have to revisit Ligeti before voting.

Where did you dig that signature quotation, btw?

[amw]

I voted Melodien, Hamburg Concerto and Violin Concerto. I consider the Requiem a choral work, and more importantly, I didn't see it when I voted. :\

Kammerkonzert is currently in 5th place

[EigenUser]

Hmm, I haven't heard the Horn Concerto.
I'll have to revisit Ligeti before voting.

Where did you dig that signature quotation, btw?

Here, start around 7:45 in the video and it will come up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEuUM6hAcDY

This video is really gold, from a music history perspective. Aside from writing wonderful music, it seems like Ligeti was a very kind and humble person. The interview is in two videos, and the first part is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNFq6HIlMEc

EDIT: The horn concerto is awesome! Pay attention for the brief, but engaging 3rd movement (begins at 4:20 in part I). African rhythms at 4:40! And, in the fourth movement (starts at 5:20), there is this melody at 7:35 that I swear sounds Caribbean-influenced!

In part II, listen for the 'lamento' motif that can be found in nearly all of his post-opera works (3:05). The end of the concerto is like a horror movie where the good guys don't escape. Scary.

http://www.youtube.com/v/OXWjayXSzcE http://www.youtube.com/v/KqVV_CUQzT4

[North Star]

Thanks for the links, the interview is very interesting.
Ahhh Hamburg Concerto! Of course I've heard it, it's in the Ligeti Project box I have.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

C&C
M of M
VC,
though there's a couple compositions listed I haven't heard.  Yet.

[DavidW]

San Francisco Polyphony, Atmospheres and the Requiem.  I really consider Lontano on that short list.

[North Star]

Perhaps these: Atmosphères, Lontano, and Clocks & Clouds. Or Requiem, San Francisco Polyphony, and Melodien.

[EigenUser]

I'm surprised that not too many people have voted. I thought that there were more Ligeti fans on GMG.

And, look who's winning so far!

[DavidW]

I'm surprised that not too many people have voted. I thought that there were more Ligeti fans on GMG.

And, look who's winning so far!

9 people voted and there are not many active members.  This is a huge turnout.  If you want way more then leave it open for like five years.

[not edward]

Just out of curiosity (it isn't exactly an orchestral work), what do you guys think of the "Aventures"?

I don't think it (& Nouvelles Aventures) have dated particularly well. They're amongst the Ligeti I listen to least often.

My choices from the list: Lontano, Requiem and the Violin Concerto.

[Mirror Image]

Lontano, Clocks & Clouds, and the Violin Concerto are locked into a dead heat right now with four votes each.

[EigenUser]

Lontano, Clocks & Clouds, and the Violin Concerto are locked into a dead heat right now with four votes each.

Oh my god -- and "Atmospheres". I'm going to have a fit if that one wins. I mean, it's okay, but it gets so much attention!

I don't think it (& Nouvelles Aventures) have dated particularly well. They're amongst the Ligeti I listen to least often.

Yes, I don't really care for them. A good video performance can be quite amusing to watch, but that's about it.

9 people voted and there are not many active members.  This is a huge turnout.  If you want way more then leave it open for like five years.

But the Debussy poll got 22 votes!!!

Of course, Ligeti isn't as popular as Debussy...