Wind Quintet Imslp __top__: Ligeti 6 Bagatelles For
György Ligeti's 6 Bagatelles for Wind Quintet (1953) is a cornerstone of the modern wind quintet repertoire, though it is currently not in the public domain on IMSLP due to copyright laws.
The suite is an arrangement of six movements from Ligeti’s piano work Musica Ricercata (1951–1953). Each movement follows a strict "economy of material" principle, where Ligeti builds complex musical structures using a limited number of pitch classes. Movement Overview Movement Tempo / Character Pitch Material Key Features I Allegro con spirito 4 Pitches (C, E, E♭, G) High energy, rhythmic and motivically inventive. II Rubato. Lamentoso Expressive and mournful; features an eerie oboe solo. III Allegro grazioso Lively and graceful with long cantabile melodies. IV Presto ruvido
Rugged and rapid; erupts like a wild Hungarian peasant dance. V Adagio. Mesto 10 Pitches ligeti 6 bagatelles for wind quintet imslp
Dedicated to Béla Bartók; begins as a haunting, spare folksong. VI Molto vivace 11 Pitches
A frenetic, boisterous finale; includes a section marked "as though insane". ECONOMY OF MATERIAL - A Composer's Guide György Ligeti's 6 Bagatelles for Wind Quintet (1953)
IV. Presto ruvido
- Source: Musica ricercata No. 7.
- Character: Fast, aggressive, and rough.
- Technique: This showcases Ligeti’s interest in mechanical, machine-like rhythms. It requires extreme precision from the ensemble to execute the interlocking patterns.
Part 1: The "Arrangement" That Fooled the Censors
To understand the Bagatelles, one must first understand Ligeti’s predicament. In the early 1950s, the Hungarian Communist regime demanded "socialist realism"—music that was accessible, tonal, and folk-influenced. Ligeti, who was secretly listening to Bartók (banned) and Stockhausen (Western decadence), could not openly write atonal counterpoint.
The 6 Bagatelles are an arrangement of his piano cycle Musica ricercata (1951-53). The original piano pieces were a manifesto: 11 movements, each using only a specific, progressively expanding set of pitches. No. 1 uses only A and D. No. 2 adds E-flat. No. 6—the famous "Bagatelle" that opens the wind quintet version—uses only three pitches. Source: Musica ricercata No
Ligeti arranged Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 from Musica ricercata for wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon). By calling them "Bagatelles"—a light, classical term—he hoped to slip them past the musical authorities. It almost worked. But after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Ligeti’s defection to the West, the piece was unveiled as the masterpiece of controlled chaos it truly is.
IMSLP Note: The score available on IMSLP is typically the 1953 Schott edition. It is public domain in many countries, but users should always check their local copyright laws. The IMSLP scan is often a handwritten or early engraved edition, which gives it a fascinating "historical document" feel.
Step 4 – The Smart Workaround (Legal & Free)
IMSLP’s page links directly to:
- Schott Music’s official page (purchase the study score – ~$25-35 USD, digital or print).
- WorldCat – find a library near you that owns the score. University music libraries almost always have it.
If you only need to rehearse one movement (e.g., No. 4 for an audition), check the "Scores" tab on IMSLP – sometimes an editor submits a "first page preview" or an excerpt under fair use.
