Composer

:

György Ligeti

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Madrigal

Compose Date

:

1988 - 1993

Average_duration

:

10:15

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

György Ligeti's 'Nonsense Madrigals' is a collection of six a cappella vocal pieces composed between 1988 and 1993. The premiere of the work was in 1993 in Stuttgart, Germany. The six movements are titled "The Lobster Quadrille," "A Long, Sad Tale," "The Alphabet," "A Laughing Song," "The Owl and the Pussycat," and "Four Nursery Rhymes." The 'Nonsense Madrigals' are characterized by their playful and whimsical nature, as well as their use of nonsense syllables and vocal effects. Ligeti drew inspiration from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and Edward Lear's 'Book of Nonsense' for the text of the pieces. The vocal lines are often highly virtuosic, with complex rhythms and intricate harmonies. In "The Lobster Quadrille," Ligeti sets Carroll's famous poem to music, using a variety of vocal effects to create the sound of the sea and the movements of the dancing lobsters. "A Long, Sad Tale" is a mournful ballad about a lost love, with a haunting melody and dissonant harmonies. "The Alphabet" is a playful setting of the letters of the alphabet, with each letter given its own unique musical motif. "A Laughing Song" is a lively and energetic piece, with the singers using their voices to create the sound of laughter. "The Owl and the Pussycat" is a charming setting of Lear's poem, with the vocal lines imitating the sounds of the animals and the sea. "Four Nursery Rhymes" is a collection of short pieces, each based on a different nursery rhyme, with Ligeti using a variety of vocal effects to create a playful and whimsical atmosphere. Overall, 'Nonsense Madrigals' is a delightful and inventive work, showcasing Ligeti's skill as a composer and his playful sense of humor. The pieces are challenging for the performers, requiring a high level of technical skill and precision, but they are also highly rewarding, with their intricate harmonies and imaginative use of vocal effects.

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