CLV. LIGETI, György (1923-2006)
Atmosphères (1961)
Orquesta Filarmónica de Berlin
Simon Rattle, cond.
(8:56)
Lux Aeterna (1966)
Ensemble Aedes
Mathieu Romano, cond.
(8:57)
It is the power of film, when combining daring imagery and even more daring music, to produce a strong psychological effect in the viewer/listener.
Many of you may experience a visual image of the film -- or even more micro -- a remembrance of watching the film; who you were with, where you were, etc.
These live performances, however, capture the true genius of Ligeti's music, and one can better fully appreciate the way the music was composed.
The main musical effect is that of tone clusters.
The opening bars of Atmosphères, for example, contain a chromatic cluster spanning five octaves held by the strings and winds.
Gradually, instruments drop out from the cluster, and reemerge in different forms. The music has been described as a "dense sound-fog."
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Lux Aeterna is, of course, from the Latin mass.
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis ...
May everlasting light shine upon them, O Lord, with thy saints in eternity, for thou art merciful. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon them.
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Ligeti uses the same cluster technique here, in addition to spreading a rhythmic device amongst the 16 voices:
Each voice uses a different rhythmic value [16th-notes (4); quintuplets (5) and sextuplets (6)], which has the effect of erasing any pedestrian beat -- leaving the music with a floating feeling that is unbound from any pulse.
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Someone made a video of Atmosphères with images from the film.
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