eShop USA > Music > György Ligeti Edition 2: A Cappella Choral Works - London Sinfonietta Voices
György Ligeti Edition 2: A Cappella Choral Works - London Sinfonietta Voices
from: Sony
Our Price: $11.98 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0074646230527
Label: Sony
Manufacturer: Sony
MPN: 62305
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Sony
Release Date: January 21, 1997
Studio: Sony
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Editorial Review:
A vast audience received its first exposure to the music of György Ligeti through Stanley Kubrick's use of his haunting "Lux Aeterna" (despite the composer's lack of consent) in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. This collection--part of Sony's invaluable Ligeti edition--places "Lux aeterna" in the context of Ligeti's other a cappella choral works, which together provide an overview of the evolving phases of one of the 20th century's most intriguing composers. In his booklet notes to the disc, Ligeti recalls the influence of Bartók and Kodály on his early folkloric compositions, from arrangements of traditional material to free, polyrhythmically inflected inventions on Hungarian folk texts, a format that allowed him some degree of experimental freedom from the strictures of "socialist realism" before he fled the Hungarian Communist regime. The breakthrough "Lux aeterna" is a classic example of Ligeti's trademark technique of "micropolyphony," enveloping the listener in mesmerizingly dense textures of cloudlike harmonies. From Ligeti's late period comes a triptych of "Hölderlin Phantasies." Their 16-voice polyphony transcends the simplistic distinction between tonality and atonality to explore "new kinds of half diatonic, half chromatic harmonies." The resulting sound world of fragmentary, dislocated epiphanies mirrors the unfathomable richness of the great visionary poet to uncanny effect. Throughout, the acoustical balance and conviction of the London Sinfonietta Voices give vivid shape to Ligeti's genius. -Thomas May
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Best recording of Lux aeterna!
This disc contains rather mundane earlier choral works by Ligeti, composed under repression by Soviet dictatorship, many of them not without cerntain beauty though, but it also contains most chillingly atmospheric performance of Lux aeterna and other highly original choral masterpices, Three Fantasies after Holderlin and Hungarian Etudes, both performed brilliantly. Sony's recording technology is world's top class capturing amazing presence and detail, far better recorded than the DG version ... Read More
Rating: - Surprising Variety in Modern A Capepella Choral works
This 'A Cappella Choral Works', the second volume in a collection of Gyorgy Ligeti compositions contains one of the pieces of music which contributed to making '2001, A Space Odyessy' such a profoundly interesting film. This piece, 'Lux aeterna' which is the textbook example of 'SciFi' music, is very different from many of the other pieces on this recording. In fact, one is really impressed by the wide variety of styles, where you have some peasant songs which sound a lot like sea chantys and other ... Read More
Rating:  - Mostly unlistenable....
Not even good for background music/noise as the voices get really loud in certain parts and almost silent.
I bought this CD and am returning it. It's just more & more of the sameness throughout the whole CD.
I realize that Ligeti is avant garde but I heard that if you like Gregorian chant (which I do) this CD is similar. I don't think it is. It's very disquieting and full of tension (great, if that's the mood you're looking for).
Rating: - a handful of great Ligeti works.
As a compilation, musically speaking, Edition 2 is probably my least favorite of the Sony Ligeti Edition collection. Many of the pieces come from traditional Hungarian sources, conceived while Ligeti was still in his early years. They are pretty, but also pretty straightforward and conventional, and other than their simple pleasantness and occasionally yummy dissonances, they aren't really mindblowing like the best Ligeti. They are often very beautiful though. However, Edition 2 DOES feature one of ... Read More
Rating: - brilliant choral music
This cd is beautiful to listen to.From Ejszaka to Kallai Ketto
is brilliant. Ligeti choral works is the first cd have got choral music on it and i love it.Now im going to get the other two cds in the ligeti edition.
(the vocal works & le grand marabre)
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