György Ligeti (1923-2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer, known for his avant-garde and innovative contributions to 20th-century music. His Six Bagatelles for wind quintet, composed in 1953, are among his most celebrated early works.
Originally extracted from his Musica Ricercata for piano, these pieces distill Ligeti’s exploration of rhythm, melody, and dissonance into concise, vibrant miniatures.
Each bagatelle presents a distinct character, ranging from playful to intense, showcasing Ligeti’s skill in creating rich, expressive music within a compact form. The Bagatelles are a key example of his ability to blend folk influences with modernist techniques, marking a significant point in his evolving compositional style.
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