Friday, October 24, 2008

György Ligeti - Poème Symphonique For 100 Metronomes



I have always wanted to perform this piece or witness it being performed. It's exactly what is suggested in the title - 100 metronomes are kicked off at once and the piece is over when they are all over. It's long, and the patterns that emerge don't really weave the rhythmic plaids I thought they might - it sounds like rain on a tin roof without the romantic overtones - but the drama and tension of how long that last little guy will keep ticking is rather delicious and even a little profound.

1 comment:

  1. I always wondered how they would start that many metronomes at once. also I never realized this was ligeti.

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