Composer

:

György Ligeti

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Etude

Compose Date

:

1988 - 1994

Average_duration

:

2:53

György Ligeti's "Etudes, Book 2 No. 11 En suspens" is a contemporary classical composition that was completed in 1988. The piece was premiered on October 22, 1988, at the Berlin Festival by Pierre-Laurent Aimard, a French pianist who was a close collaborator of Ligeti. "En suspens" is the eleventh and final piece in Ligeti's second book of etudes, which he composed between 1985 and 1988. The etudes are a series of virtuosic piano pieces that explore various technical and musical challenges. "En suspens" is one of the most challenging pieces in the series, both technically and musically. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which explores a different aspect of suspended animation. The first movement, "Mouvement suspendu," is characterized by a series of suspended chords that create a sense of tension and anticipation. The chords are played with a delicate touch, creating a fragile and ethereal atmosphere. The second movement, "Nuages," is a more atmospheric and impressionistic piece. The music is characterized by a series of overlapping and interweaving lines that create a sense of swirling clouds. The music is often dissonant and unpredictable, with sudden shifts in harmony and rhythm. The final movement, "L'escalier du diable," is the most technically demanding of the three. The music is characterized by a series of rapid-fire arpeggios and cascading runs that create a sense of vertigo and disorientation. The music is often dissonant and chaotic, with sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics. Overall, "En suspens" is a challenging and complex piece that showcases Ligeti's mastery of contemporary classical composition. The piece is characterized by its use of suspended animation, dissonant harmonies, and unpredictable rhythms, creating a sense of tension and anticipation throughout.

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