May 28 - György Ligeti (The Musical Birthday Series)

Hungarian composer György Ligeti (28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was one of the dominating figures of the late twentieth century avant-garde.

Atmospherics

In the 60s his work was renowned

For the dazzling new textures he found.

In short, the epiphany

Of micropolyphony

Created the Ligeti sound

Hollywood Redux 1

As Ligeti laid down his pen

He thought, “This is now, that was then.

Of course it was groovy

To be used in that movie,

But it likely won’t happen again.”

Hollywood Redux 2

When Ligeti finished a score

He mused on what happened before:

2001

Was bundles of fun,

But he felt like a bit of a whore.

Études pour piano de György Ligeti

His études are ultra-demanding,

And need a technique that’s commanding,

But be not dismayed

They’re quite often played,

The fingering snags notwithstanding.