Avant-Garde Composer György Ligeti Dead at 83
Born in 1923 in Transylvania, Romania, Ligeti moved with his family to Hungary as a child. In 1943, as a Jew living under the Nazi regime, he was sent to a labor camp. Although he survived the Holocaust, many members of his family did not. In 1956, he left Hungary for Austria, where he connected with many giants of the European new music avant-garde, including Karlheinz Stockhausen, Gottfried Michael Koenig, and Herbert Eimert.
Ligeti composed in a variety of forms and styles, including opera, chamber music, and conceptual pieces, including a work for 100 metronomes and 1961's "Future of Music", written for "non-speaking lecturer and audience." His foremost stylistic innovation was the use of "micropolyphony," described by Pitchfork's own Dominique Leone in a 2002 review as "a concept of composing music not as a melody with harmony and rhythm, but as an endless mesh of interweaving textures where no one voice stands out."
Ligeti achieved a new level of fame when Stanley Kubrick used excerpts from his pieces "Atmospheres" and "Lux Aeterna" in his 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Kubrick would go on to feature Ligeti's music in his 1980 film The Shining and 1999's Eyes Wide Shut as well.
The composer's name has been invoked from time to time on Pitchfork, most recently by Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, who said in an interview that Ligeti's music has helped inspire the sound of his band's forthcoming second album. In an Artist List back in April, Clogs listed two Ligeti pieces as being influential to their band's music. Describing "Atmospheres", Clogs said, "When sound meets space, it's a continually moving pictograph."
Recent News
Most Read News
- The Pitchfork Guide to Summer Festivals 2008
- The Pitchfork Guide to Upcoming Releases: Summer '08
- My Bloody Valentine Lead Unfuckingbelievable Lineup for New York All Tomorrow's Parties Fest
- Is This Really the New Weezer Album Cover?
- Dear God, Please Let This Be the Lil Wayne Album Cover
- My Bloody Valentine Announce North American Tour!
- Tom Waits Reveals "Glitter and Doom" Tour
- Sigur Ros Line Up Summer Tour Dates
- Coldplay Reveal Viva la Vida Tracklist
- Sigur Rós Announce Full North American Tour
- Photos: Bonnaroo [Saturday]
- Wolf Parade March Out New LP Tracklist
- Photos: Sasquatch! Festival [Monday] (NSFW)
- Beck Announces Summer Tour
- Wolf Parade Announce Summer Tour
- Sonic Youth Reveal Starbucks Hits Comp Details
- Photos: Bonnaroo [Thursday/Friday]
- Sigur Ros Sneak Peeks of New Album, Expand Tour
- Pitchfork's Guide to Record Store Day
- Radiohead, Live Nation Respond to Virginia Washout
- Peter Hook Talks New Order Split, DVD, Joy Division
- Ian Curtis' Gravestone Stolen
- Was Bonnaroo Really M.I.A.'s "Last Gig Ever"?
- Tom Waits Extends "Glitter and Doom" Tour
- Pitchfork Festival: Set Times Revealed! Tix Going Fast!
- The New Mogwai Album Tracklist Is Amazing
- Wolf Parade Join the 2008 Cover Art Hall of Fame
- The Conor Oberst Album Cover Is Dreamy
- Built to Spill Reveal Full-Blown Perfect Tour
- Crystal Castles Caught Up in Artwork Controversy
- Photos: Radiohead [West Palm Beach, FL; 05/05/08]
- Girl Talk's Feed the Animals Available Now!
- Radiohead Use Fancy Technology in Camera-Free Video
- The New Mogwai Album Cover Is Disappointing
- My Morning Jacket Announce Lengthy American Tour
- Weezer Reveal "Red Album" Tracklist, Bonus Cuts
- The National Design T-Shirt for Obama
- Arcade Fire Scoring Donnie Darko Dude's New Movie
- Josh Homme Defends Himself: "Homophobic? I'm in Queens of the Stone Age for Crissake"
- Radiohead, Prince at Odds Over Blocked YouTube Vids
- Radiohead to Go "Green" on "Conan O'Brien"
- Feist Does "1234" on "Sesame Street", Adds Dates
- Radiohead, Interpol, Pornos Fete Independents Day
- R. Kelly Not Guilty!!!!
- Crystal Castles Respond to Chip Music Controversy
- Kanye West Responds to Bonnaroo Haters
- Wanna Open for Coldplay?
- Sub Pop Announces 20th Anniversary Bash
- Bob Dylan Big Ups Barack Obama
- OiNK Users Apparently Arrested by British Police