György Ligeti: Six Bagatelles (1953)

00:00 - I. Allegro con spirito 01:11 - II. Rubato, lamentoso 04:23 - III. Allegro grazioso 06:54 - IV. Presto ruvido 07:55 - V. Adagio, mesto 10:20 - VI. Molto vivace, capriccioso _____ Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet Year of Recording: 1994 _____ “These six pieces were originally part of a collection of 12 bagatelles composed for piano between 1951 and 1953. In 1953, Gyorgy Ligeti transcribed six of the bagatelles for a wind quintet made up of flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon. With the exception of the second and fifth bagatelles, these are quick, spirited little pieces. They reflect Ligeti’s economical approach to composition, as a minimum number of notes are used to maximum effect. The bagatelles are often texturally sparse, with most of the notes either played staccato or strongly accented to create cool but insistent music. The dynamics change frequently, sometimes several times in each bar, and the instruments are often called on to play muted, a