Solo Cello Sonata (Ligeti)
Encyclopedia
The Sonata for Solo Cello is an unaccompanied cello sonata
written by György Ligeti
between 1948 and 1953. The piece was initially received poorly by the Soviet-run Composer's Union and was not allowed to be published or performed. However, in the 1980s and 90s, after over a quarter century in repose, the piece reemerged and has since become a well-known part of the standard cello repertoire. The Sonata comprises two disjunct movements:
, Ligeti was required to subject all his compositions to the scrutiny of the Communist-controlled Composers’ Union, at the risk of losing his job. He later recalled his interaction with the Union:
With that decree, the piece was set aside, not to be performed again until 1979. From then, the popularity of the Sonata grew, and in 2005 became a qualifying test for the Rostropovich Cello Competition in Paris.
and Zoltán Kodály
. Of the first movement of the Sonata, he described:
The movement is marked "Adagio, rubato, cantabile," and comprises a total of 16 measures, each consisting a varied number of beats ranging from three to twenty, with barlines marking only phrase divisions. It begins with two pairs of pizzicato
chords separated by a glissando
, an extended technique which was championed by Bartók. The pitches in the first chord pair constitute a D dorian scale, while the second pair has tonal implications, emphasizing the dominant
and establishing the feeling of D as tonic
. A melody in D phrygian begins. In an article delving into the technical aspects of the Sonata, Søren Beech suggests that the melody may have been inspired by ancient modal tunes preserved through the Eastern European folk music tradition. The modal melody is presented throughout the movement with distinct alterations: it is stated with rhythmic augmentation and then in polyphony, a testament to Ligeti’s counterpoint training under Ferenc Farkas
. A second melody is introduced in measure 6, this one with tonal implications, which are later confirmed by chordal accompaniment. Beech also makes the observation that the important tones of both melodies outline descending tetrachords, evidence of the influence of Bartók, who often used fourths as a structural element in melodies. After a final restatement of the phrygian melody in polyphony, the movement ends with a restatement of the opening pizzicato glissando motif arriving finally on a Picardy third
.
is self-evidently Bartókian.
In fact, the title Capriccio was a direct reference to the famously brilliant Caprices for violin by Niccolò Paganini
, which Ligeti had encountered as a child. In contrast to the lyrical, rubato Dialogo, the Capriccio is written almost entirely in an unrelenting 3/8 pattern, breaking only once, abruptly in the middle for a truncated reminiscence of the Dialogo. The opening is marked “Presto con slancio” (very quick with impetus) and “forte vigoroso.” Two interval-motifs are exclaimed separately, which are then woven together with increasing intricacy in a massive crescendo
, which subsides into a modal
sounding second theme
, the tones of which alternate with a pedal tone
of A. This theme and the opening motifs share a tritone
relationship, a compositional device prominently used by Bartók. The modal melody is once again reiterated, this time “tremolo sul tasto,” (over the fingerboard
) and harmonized with a perfect fifth
above, a chord planing technique which also reflects Bartók’s influence. A new rhythmic section erupts consisting of disjunct perfect fifth chords. This heralds the beginning of a pseudo-development section, in which the second theme is elaborated. The Dialogo returns briefly, and is followed by a full recapitulation and coda, finally ending exuberantly (with tutta la forza) in G major.
Cello sonata
A cello sonata is usually a sonata written for cello and piano, though other instrumentations are used, such as solo cello. The most famous Romantic-era cellos sonatas are those written by Johannes Brahms and Ludwig van Beethoven...
written by György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
between 1948 and 1953. The piece was initially received poorly by the Soviet-run Composer's Union and was not allowed to be published or performed. However, in the 1980s and 90s, after over a quarter century in repose, the piece reemerged and has since become a well-known part of the standard cello repertoire. The Sonata comprises two disjunct movements:
- Dialogo - Adagio, rubato, cantabile
- Capriccio - Presto con slancio
History
Ligeti was nearing the end of his schooling in 1948 and had already established himself as a highly gifted student. In this year, he composed the Dialogo, which would later become the first movement of the Sonata, for a female cellist and fellow student at the Budapest Music Academy, Annuss Virány, with whom Ligeti was "secretly in love." Virány purportedly was not aware of the reason behind Ligeti’s generosity; she merely thanked him and never played it. Several years later, in 1953, Ligeti met Vera Dénes, an older and more celebrated cellist, who asked him for a piece of music. Having written only one unperformed cello work to date, Ligeti offered to expand the Dialogo into a "two-movement short sonata," adding a virtuosic Capriccio movement. With the country still under Soviet occupationSoviet occupation of Hungary
The Soviet occupation of Hungary, followed the defeat of Hungary in World War II, lasted for 45 years ending in 1991 shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union -World War II:...
, Ligeti was required to subject all his compositions to the scrutiny of the Communist-controlled Composers’ Union, at the risk of losing his job. He later recalled his interaction with the Union:
With that decree, the piece was set aside, not to be performed again until 1979. From then, the popularity of the Sonata grew, and in 2005 became a qualifying test for the Rostropovich Cello Competition in Paris.
Dialogo
Ligeti freely admitted that his pre-1956 compositions were heavily influenced by Béla BartókBéla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
and Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
. Of the first movement of the Sonata, he described:
The movement is marked "Adagio, rubato, cantabile," and comprises a total of 16 measures, each consisting a varied number of beats ranging from three to twenty, with barlines marking only phrase divisions. It begins with two pairs of pizzicato
Pizzicato
Pizzicato is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of stringed instrument....
chords separated by a glissando
Glissando
In music, a glissando is a glide from one pitch to another. It is an Italianized musical term derived from the French glisser, to glide. In some contexts it is distinguished from the continuous portamento...
, an extended technique which was championed by Bartók. The pitches in the first chord pair constitute a D dorian scale, while the second pair has tonal implications, emphasizing the dominant
Dominant (music)
In music, the dominant is the fifth scale degree of the diatonic scale, called "dominant" because it is next in importance to the tonic,and a dominant chord is any chord built upon that pitch, using the notes of the same diatonic scale...
and establishing the feeling of D as tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
. A melody in D phrygian begins. In an article delving into the technical aspects of the Sonata, Søren Beech suggests that the melody may have been inspired by ancient modal tunes preserved through the Eastern European folk music tradition. The modal melody is presented throughout the movement with distinct alterations: it is stated with rhythmic augmentation and then in polyphony, a testament to Ligeti’s counterpoint training under Ferenc Farkas
Ferenc Farkas
Ferenc Farkas was a Hungarian composer.Farkas began his studies in composition at the Budapest Academy of Music , where his teachers were Leo Weiner and Albert Siklós. He later studied with Ottorino Respighi in Rome...
. A second melody is introduced in measure 6, this one with tonal implications, which are later confirmed by chordal accompaniment. Beech also makes the observation that the important tones of both melodies outline descending tetrachords, evidence of the influence of Bartók, who often used fourths as a structural element in melodies. After a final restatement of the phrygian melody in polyphony, the movement ends with a restatement of the opening pizzicato glissando motif arriving finally on a Picardy third
Picardy third
A Picardy third is a harmonic device used in European classical music.It refers to the use of a major chord of the tonic at the end of a musical section which is either modal or in a minor key...
.
Capriccio
While on the spectrum from Kodály’s romantic style to the more aggressive style of Bartók, the Dialogo is considered closer to Kodály, the CapriccioCapriccio (music)
A capriccio or caprice , is a piece of music, usually fairly free in form and of a lively character...
is self-evidently Bartókian.
In fact, the title Capriccio was a direct reference to the famously brilliant Caprices for violin by Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
, which Ligeti had encountered as a child. In contrast to the lyrical, rubato Dialogo, the Capriccio is written almost entirely in an unrelenting 3/8 pattern, breaking only once, abruptly in the middle for a truncated reminiscence of the Dialogo. The opening is marked “Presto con slancio” (very quick with impetus) and “forte vigoroso.” Two interval-motifs are exclaimed separately, which are then woven together with increasing intricacy in a massive crescendo
Crescendo
-In music:*Crescendo, a passage of music during which the volume gradually increases, see Dynamics * Crescendo , a Liverpool-based electronic pop band* "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue", one of Duke Ellington's longer-form compositions...
, which subsides into a modal
Musical mode
In the theory of Western music since the ninth century, mode generally refers to a type of scale. This usage, still the most common in recent years, reflects a tradition dating to the middle ages, itself inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music.The word encompasses several additional...
sounding second theme
Theme (music)
In music, a theme is the material, usually a recognizable melody, upon which part or all of a composition is based.-Characteristics:A theme may be perceivable as a complete musical expression in itself, separate from the work in which it is found . In contrast to an idea or motif, a theme is...
, the tones of which alternate with a pedal tone
Pedal tone
Pedal tones are special notes in the harmonic series of cylindrical-bore brass instruments. A pedal tone has the pitch of its harmonic series' fundamental tone. Its name comes from the pedals of a pipe-organ. Cylindrical brasses do not naturally vibrate at this frequency.A closed cylinder...
of A. This theme and the opening motifs share a tritone
Tritone
In classical music from Western culture, the tritone |tone]]) is traditionally defined as a musical interval composed of three whole tones. In a chromatic scale, each whole tone can be further divided into two semitones...
relationship, a compositional device prominently used by Bartók. The modal melody is once again reiterated, this time “tremolo sul tasto,” (over the fingerboard
Fingerboard
The fingerboard is a part of most stringed instruments. It is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument and above which the strings run...
) and harmonized with a perfect fifth
Perfect fifth
In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is a musical interval encompassing five staff positions , and the perfect fifth is a fifth spanning seven semitones, or in meantone, four diatonic semitones and three chromatic semitones...
above, a chord planing technique which also reflects Bartók’s influence. A new rhythmic section erupts consisting of disjunct perfect fifth chords. This heralds the beginning of a pseudo-development section, in which the second theme is elaborated. The Dialogo returns briefly, and is followed by a full recapitulation and coda, finally ending exuberantly (with tutta la forza) in G major.
Notable recordings
- Haimovitz, Matt, cello. Suites and Sonatas for Solo Cello. Works by Britten, Reger, Crumb, and Ligeti. Deutsche Grammophon CD 431 813-2, 1991.
- Perényi, Miklós, cello, Várjon, Dénes, piano. "Hungarian Cello Music". Works by Ligeti, Veress, Liszt, Dohnányi, Weiner, Mihály. Hungaroton Classic, 1999.