In 1985, Gyorgy Ligeti produced a collection of six piano Ã«tudes, to which he added two further volumes in the following sixteen years. Many people in New Music circles of the time responded with a lack of appreciation and understanding. Whereas the piano etude tradition of the 19th century was continued by Bartok, Debussy and Stravinsky at the beginning of the 20th century, this tradition no longer existed by the end of the 20th century. Ligeti not only wanted to revive a great musical tradition but also to explore it's potential in a contemporary form. His piano writing is not only polyphonic in the customary sense, but also polyrhythmic, poly-temporal, and even poly-ethnic. On this recording from Wergo, pianist Thomas Hell makes a powerful case for these fascinating works.

Tracklist:

Premier Livre. Étude 1, Désordre
Premier Livre. Étude 2, Cordes À Vide
Premier Livre. Étude 3, Touches Bloquées
Premier Livre. Étude 4, Fanfares
Premier Livre. Étude 5, Arc-En-Ciel
Premier Livre. Étude 6, Automne À Varsovie
Deuxième Livre. Étude 7, Galamb Borong
Deuxième Livre. Étude 8, Fém
Deuxième Livre. Étude 9, Vertige
Deuxième Livre. Étude 10, Der Zauberlehrling
Deuxième Livre. Étude 11, En Suspens
Deuxième Livre. Étude 12, Entrelacs
Deuxième Livre. Étude 13, L’escalier Du Diable
Deuxième Livre. Étude 14, Coloana Infinita
Troisième Livre. Étude 15, White On White
Troisième Livre. Étude 16, Pour Irina
Troisième Livre. Étude 17, À Bout De Souffle
Troisième Livre. Étude 18, Canon

UPC: 4010228676327
Label: Wergo Germany
Release Date: 1.8.13
Format: CD

Thomas Hell - Etudes for Piano (CD)