Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Post-tonal piano literature remains unpopular with many modern performers due to a perceived lack of technical approachability. As a result, a wealth of post-tonal keyboard music passes into obscurity, never reaching modern audiences. Despite the preconception that post-tonal music lacks formal and harmonic structure, one can assign order to elements within these compositions both for purposes of improving pedagogy and engendering familiarity with the literature. My research aims to demonstrate one process of elucidating the relative accessibility of post-tonal literature for keyboard by means of an analysis of a selection of György Ligeti’s Études pour piano. Because this material often lies outside of the traditional means of Western form and analysis, I will be assigning order to specific elements in analyzing the construction of the studies, which is centered around unifying rhythmic or harmonic material. In doing so, the learning process becomes more approachable.
Faculty Mentor
Donna King, Ph.D.
Recommended Citation
Ball, Easton, "Post-Tonal Pedagogy in the Music of György Ligeti" (2025). Student Scholar Symposium. 62.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/student_scholars_symposium/2025/Full_schedule/62
Included in
Ethnomusicology Commons, Musicology Commons, Music Pedagogy Commons, Music Theory Commons
Post-Tonal Pedagogy in the Music of György Ligeti
Post-tonal piano literature remains unpopular with many modern performers due to a perceived lack of technical approachability. As a result, a wealth of post-tonal keyboard music passes into obscurity, never reaching modern audiences. Despite the preconception that post-tonal music lacks formal and harmonic structure, one can assign order to elements within these compositions both for purposes of improving pedagogy and engendering familiarity with the literature. My research aims to demonstrate one process of elucidating the relative accessibility of post-tonal literature for keyboard by means of an analysis of a selection of György Ligeti’s Études pour piano. Because this material often lies outside of the traditional means of Western form and analysis, I will be assigning order to specific elements in analyzing the construction of the studies, which is centered around unifying rhythmic or harmonic material. In doing so, the learning process becomes more approachable.