Re: [tuning] György Ligeti - Sonate for Viola Solo

Wim Hoogewerf wrote:

> Schott editors have finally released Ligeti's Sonate for Viola solo. I red
> he used some unusual intervals, and he is one of my favourite composers, so
> I decided to buy the score. Indeed, the first mouvement Hora lunga (1994) is
> a monody, to be played entirely on the low C-string of the viola. Ligeti
> makes use of the natural intervals (pure major third, pure minor seventh
> and also the 11th harmonic). The harmonics of C serve as a model. Nothing
> spectacular in itself, if it wasn't that Ligeti is a leading composer and
> it's conforting to notice that, whenever folkmelodies (in this case
> Romanian) are referred to, Just Intonation seems to be approved as a better
> tool for this musical language.
>
> Johnny Reinhard, perhaps this is an idea for Anastasia, since she's already
> collaborating in your coming AFMM Festival. Congratulations, by the way!
>
> --Wim Hoogewerf

Whilst looking for new material to play on the bouzouki some years ago, I came across Bartok's
transcriptions of the many folk melodies that he had collected from around Hungary and Romania.
The Hora Lunga appears to have been one of the most prevalent forms on both flute and fiddle.
Though the transcriptions I have are largely notated in standard notation, the original recordings
are a microtonal dreamworld and Ligeti has done no more than remain true to his folk roots,
albeit with a measure of compositional mastery. One day I might resurrect these gems and try to
find suitable scales with which to play them.

Best Wishes