I had the chance to listen to this song in a concert. The musician played Rameau, Bach, Purcell, and then this. The faces of the people who were in the public were fantastic.
Carpal tunnel syndrome fur wohltempierte klavier But seriously, I love this piece, and just about everything by Ligeti. What a genius. I want to try this piece on a modular synthesizer (using a sequencer, of course). In fact, designing a circuit to reproduce this piece as two series of control voltages could be a lot of fun.
Great comment ! At 1:51 it sounds like the sequencer stuff from the WHO ,..."Tommy" or was it one of the others? I would love to find an 'electronic ' version of this ! I was hoping to find it on Your channel, but You only have several upload's of John Cages "silence"
I think when you set out to learn a piece like this, you have to hit the gym first. I could totally see him doing a bunch of forearm exercises to get in shape for this.
i was just remarking on how diverse the human race is, on the one hand we have psychopaths, on the other we have people who can play this. i'm somewhere in the middle, make an acceptable cup of tea, most of the time.
@rancodanca you are correct: Ligeti calls for a performance of "4 minutes or less". This equates to a speed of at least 13.6 notes/second. My average speed is around 13.8 notes/second. The reason my performance lasts more than 4 minutes is partly because of the extra time before and after I play. Also, I repeat certain patterns more than specified to allow changes of registration (e.g. 2'16"). The harpsichord Ligeti wrote for had registration pedals, so this would not have been a problem.
I think there used to be a piano version on TH-cam, but I can't find it now. But here's an interesting one for two marimbas. There's also one for barrel organ. They don't quite do it for me in the way the harpsichord does, but I don't find them dull. th-cam.com/video/G6eFD9WVPoQ/w-d-xo.html
Love the registration transition at 3:40! As terrific as computer-generated/assisted music can certainly be, the tactile quality of this music is priceless. Love the vacant second harpsichord on stage, too! Really terrific performance. I'd enjoy hearing Mr. McKean play Ann Southam, if that's in his repertoire: similar complete independence of hands required for her "Glass Houses" and "River Set" pieces. Christina Petrowska-Quilico is the only performer I've ever heard who can pull it off convincingly.
When I first heard this years ago, parts of it reminded me in sound of a spoke wheel spinning very fast and through a strobing effect, appears to slow and reverse while still spinning forward. The overall effect of the piece is quite impressive. Well played!
I've performed this piece before and absolutely love it. Your rendition was for me, firey, energetic and spot-on. Audiences often have trouble grasping the generic concept of Continuum but I find that if one mentally prepares themselves for something new and different (often like trying a new cuisine), the piece can be better appreciated if not understood.
this reminds me a little of John Cage...daring to take liberties with preconceived notions about what "music" really is. I had the honor of seeing Cage in concert playing one of his works for "prepared" piano. It was incredible. This also reminds me of Philip Glass.
Its an amazing little piece. After a while the spinning notes sound akin to spinning spokes on a wheel, with a strobe effect, The wheel appears to rotate slowly backwards while simultaneously spinning rapidly forward. This is symbolized in sound.
Incredible. Was that one single note repeated at the end? And in the first couple minutes, what floored me were the quintuplets in one hand against triplets in the other hand, or some crazy combination like that. Wow. Exceptional instrument played by an exceptional musician.
An interesting piece, I enjoyed your performance very much. I'm not partial to modern music on the harpsichord-- it's an instrument of a different era, with a very different musical syntax-- but this piece exploits the tonal colors possible and accepts certain limitations the instrument imposes on the performer and composer and brings it into this time. Thank you for playing-- and posting.
OMG,,,,,Ligeti is so exciting to listen to,,,,,, so unbelievably FRESH,,,,,, ONE OF THE GREATS OF ANY CENTURY!!!!!!!!!! Thank You for posting this Treasure!!!!!!!
I learned about this piece in the 70s, then played by Antoinette Vischer on a modernistic Neupert harpsichord or the like. I was always under the impression that the work cannot be played on a historic harpsichord. This video taught me otherwise. Marvellous job!
Es increíble es efecto sonoro que produce el clavicordio. Si escuchas detenidamente te das cuenta de que una vibración continua aparece, como una onda distinta al sonido del instrumento, que se escucha como un instrumento de viento en el fondo del instrumento. En realidad un asombroso experimento donde la melodía en realidad es esa vibración escondida. En el primer minuto se puede apreciar lo que digo.
como ejemplo tenemor a steve reich(mucha de su música), riley(la mayoria de su música), satie (con vexation), andre jolivet (incantations para flauta sola)
You can certainly compose something like Continuum NOW that Ligeti has already done it, but you certainly couldn't have done it before. Anyone can "invent" the wheel today. If you look at people doing something truly new and you go "oh, I could have done it too", you're not being smart. Oh, and here's a definition of "music" for you: any art that is made of SOUND. It doesn't even need to "impress anyone aurally": it just needs to happen in time.
You're absolutely amazing and humble, that's a rare treat today. Keep up the amazing work, you're performance is incredible, I could almost sweat in the paranoia of this piece. thumbs up for you!
An amazing performance. I can understand why certain people might think this piece strange, but I think people can be so close minded to even listen. I'm no expert on Ligeti's music, but I think an open mind is a valuable thing to have.
Wow! Hey John, its Ron E. :) Nice to see you here on TH-cam! I just stumbled across this and went, "Hey, I know that guy!" ;) Nice job....hope to see many more videos of your great playing!
I was lucky enough to first hear this piece on record, away from the distraction of an ornately decorated harpsichord and it's rather hypnotic. It's not about the harpsichord but about the sonic textures. The eventual effect is like watching a spinning spoke wheel that, through a strobing effect suddenly appears to be rotating slowly backwards while rapidly spinning forward. It's not a Ligeti piece I'd listen too often but is quite effective.
That was one of the most sublime musical moments I've ever witnessed. The way he makes the wood of the instrument sing along, thump along, the percussive pangs of the manuals... And also the contagious exuberance of the performer! Thank you, Mr McKean, and may you continue your visionary artistry! This hereby joins Chojnacka's "Naama" in my pantheon.
Ligeti Minimalista? Sim, afinal o minimalismo já existe há séculos e os compositores contemporâneos continuam a enriquecê-lo e a dar-lhe um novo brilho!
John! Great job! wow. that is pretty intense harpsichord playing. Andrew C. sent me this link. It has been a long time since those gamba sonatas. You were great!
@@TomSistermans actually, that isn't the case. Certainly Ligeti had been composing for years before Reich had been, but not in a minimalist style, and Ligeti used elements of minimalism in some of his work, although he was never a minimalist composer as we understand the term in the mold of Young, Riley, Reich, and Glass. Incidentally, the second movement of Ligeti's '3 Pieces' for 2 pianos from 1976 is called, 'Self-Portrait with Reich and Riley (and Chopin in the Background)'. He was very familiar with Reich and the work of the minimalists, and acknowledged inspiration from them.
I find Ligeti's work sonically intriguing and I understand it fine but I'd be lying if I said I liked listening to it very often. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with being repelled by Continuum nor is there anything wrong with being in love with it. To each his own. The only things wrong are A) making no effort to understand the piece and claiming that enjoyment of it is impossible or B) Believing that NOT enjoying this music is entirely due to some bourgeois construct The comments here are littered with A and B and those engaging in A and B are overzealous assholes that should get a proper conceit of themselves... To the performer: thank you for sharing this... yours was an excellent execution of a demanding piece.
HEY TH-cam: pro tip. Continuum was written long before Justin Taylor or Alpha "licensed" it to you. John McKean recorded this well before Taylor's cd was made. And for the record, I prefer Mr. McKean's superlative performance.
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
I had the chance to listen to this song in a concert. The musician played Rameau, Bach, Purcell, and then this. The faces of the people who were in the public were fantastic.
It is not a song!
No one is singing
@@johnoldland7841 the harpsichord is singing
Finally found a piece to play for my future girlfriend on Valentine's Day.
Let us know how that worked out.
If she loves it. She's the one.
If she loves it, keep her away from sharp objects, and lock the bathroom door when you take a shower.
You're not gonna play that on a piano, are you? ;---)))
TheStatue1 What? Sorry I couldn't hear you over this micropolyphony of your girl's orgasmic moans.
Tendonitis for harpsichord - Gyorgy Ligeti
Carpal tunnel syndrome fur wohltempierte klavier
But seriously, I love this piece, and just about everything by Ligeti. What a genius. I want to try this piece on a modular synthesizer (using a sequencer, of course). In fact, designing a circuit to reproduce this piece as two series of control voltages could be a lot of fun.
Great comment ! At 1:51 it sounds like the sequencer stuff from the WHO ,..."Tommy" or was it one of the others? I would love to find an 'electronic ' version of this ! I was hoping to find it on Your channel, but You only have several upload's of John Cages "silence"
I think when you set out to learn a piece like this, you have to hit the gym first. I could totally see him doing a bunch of forearm exercises to get in shape for this.
i was just remarking on how diverse the human race is, on the one hand we have psychopaths, on the other we have people who can play this. i'm somewhere in the middle, make an acceptable cup of tea, most of the time.
@@Geopholus Baba O’Reilly?
@rancodanca you are correct: Ligeti calls for a performance of "4 minutes or less". This equates to a speed of at least 13.6 notes/second. My average speed is around 13.8 notes/second. The reason my performance lasts more than 4 minutes is partly because of the extra time before and after I play. Also, I repeat certain patterns more than specified to allow changes of registration (e.g. 2'16"). The harpsichord Ligeti wrote for had registration pedals, so this would not have been a problem.
@@anotherhumanbeingblyat8935 You can see he says he plays faster.
i have a question- how to change from 8+8 to 16+8+4? i need to move three pedals simultaneously while having only two legs...
Mario sure got a lot of coins.
Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!Ba-ding!...
Brilliant piece. Ligeti found a whole new world of sound in the harpsichord. Imagine how dull this would sound on the piano.
I think there used to be a piano version on TH-cam, but I can't find it now. But here's an interesting one for two marimbas. There's also one for barrel organ. They don't quite do it for me in the way the harpsichord does, but I don't find them dull.
th-cam.com/video/G6eFD9WVPoQ/w-d-xo.html
actually there exists version for player piano - not, TWO player pianos - and it's fine. I also love the barrel organ version.
But pianos don't have two keyboards inorder to same notes be played simultaneously.
Love the registration transition at 3:40! As terrific as computer-generated/assisted music can certainly be, the tactile quality of this music is priceless. Love the vacant second harpsichord on stage, too! Really terrific performance. I'd enjoy hearing Mr. McKean play Ann Southam, if that's in his repertoire: similar complete independence of hands required for her "Glass Houses" and "River Set" pieces. Christina Petrowska-Quilico is the only performer I've ever heard who can pull it off convincingly.
Sounds like being inside a huge slot machine room of a casino on a Saturday night.
you are in the wrong place, pussycat...report it here: www.humanesociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/tips/cruelty_action.html
this is pretty much what a pachinko arcade in Tokyo sounds like. I'm not joking.
It's actually inspired by machines too
No matter how often I watch this, I am increasingly amazed at this performance. Magnificent!!
When I first heard this years ago, parts of it reminded me in sound of a spoke wheel spinning very fast and through a strobing effect, appears to slow and reverse while still spinning forward. The overall effect of the piece is quite impressive. Well played!
That's a really interesting interpretation.
It seems like decades since I've heard this. I never thought I'd find it again. Thanks!
I've performed this piece before and absolutely love it. Your rendition was for me, firey, energetic and spot-on. Audiences often have trouble grasping the generic concept of Continuum but I find that if one mentally prepares themselves for something new and different (often like trying a new cuisine), the piece can be better appreciated if not understood.
Excellent. What's your high score?
Joking aside, really inspiring.
That was an impressive performance. I listened to that piece over and over again in music school, and I enjoyed this rendition quite a lot.
When the inventor of the harpsichord hears this music and starts spinning in his grave... this is what it sounds like.
nice
Holy shit this is crazy! I've listened to a lot of Ligeti by now but he just keeps surprising me!
I enjoyed it. Hearing it is like escaping to another sphere, of light, of absolute Reality.
Unbelievable! It is very hard to find words to describe this jaw dropping performance. I am in awe.
this reminds me a little of John Cage...daring to take liberties with preconceived notions about what "music" really is. I had the honor of seeing Cage in concert playing one of his works for "prepared" piano. It was incredible. This also reminds me of Philip Glass.
Its an amazing little piece. After a while the spinning notes sound akin to spinning spokes on a wheel, with a strobe effect, The wheel appears to rotate slowly backwards while simultaneously spinning rapidly forward. This is symbolized in sound.
Already my favourite harpsichord piece
Aliens hear that in space and write back "It's YOUR mom!"
Incredible. Was that one single note repeated at the end? And in the first couple minutes, what floored me were the quintuplets in one hand against triplets in the other hand, or some crazy combination like that. Wow.
Exceptional instrument played by an exceptional musician.
Magnifique ! Extraordinaire composition et excellent interprète.
An interesting piece, I enjoyed your performance very much. I'm not partial to modern music on the harpsichord-- it's an instrument of a different era, with a very different musical syntax-- but this piece exploits the tonal colors possible and accepts certain limitations the instrument imposes on the performer and composer and brings it into this time. Thank you for playing-- and posting.
his hands hurt after this for sure!
just a masterpiece!
Grandiose music, grandiosely played!
OMG,,,,,Ligeti is so exciting to listen to,,,,,, so unbelievably FRESH,,,,,, ONE OF THE GREATS OF ANY CENTURY!!!!!!!!!! Thank You for posting this Treasure!!!!!!!
uah! grandioso! bellissimo! La Musica della meccanica quantistica e dell'universo in espansione... fantastica! uah! 💥💥💥🌜✨🌛💥💥💥
Wonderful playing ! From Philippines :)
Speechless. That was brilliant. Holy crap. Give that guy a beer.
this is like the greatest musical piece ever created. thank you so much McKean and Ligeti
sure
Yes!! Finally someone who realizes this.
You seem to be suggesting that aesthetic value is something universal and objective. I think you will find that is an impossible argument to make.
oh my. flawless. the speed of your repetitions at 5:00 are incredible.
ligeti would be proud.
Bravissimo, many thanks from Italy.
I learned about this piece in the 70s, then played by Antoinette Vischer on a modernistic Neupert harpsichord or the like. I was always under the impression that the work cannot be played on a historic harpsichord. This video taught me otherwise. Marvellous job!
This is what my anxiety feels like
Es increíble es efecto sonoro que produce el clavicordio. Si escuchas detenidamente te das cuenta de que una vibración continua aparece, como una onda distinta al sonido del instrumento, que se escucha como un instrumento de viento en el fondo del instrumento. En realidad un asombroso experimento donde la melodía en realidad es esa vibración escondida. En el primer minuto se puede apreciar lo que digo.
En algunos acordes pasa eso y es puro sentimiento que te transmite.
Eso sucede con la repetición o reiteración en la música, comienzas de a poco a oír elementos que antes pasaban desapercibido
como ejemplo tenemor a steve reich(mucha de su música), riley(la mayoria de su música), satie (con vexation), andre jolivet (incantations para flauta sola)
Brilliant performance! Thanks and congrats!
Absolutely awesome piece and awesome playing
Every few years I return to listen to this masterpiece.
You can certainly compose something like Continuum NOW that Ligeti has already done it, but you certainly couldn't have done it before. Anyone can "invent" the wheel today. If you look at people doing something truly new and you go "oh, I could have done it too", you're not being smart. Oh, and here's a definition of "music" for you: any art that is made of SOUND. It doesn't even need to "impress anyone aurally": it just needs to happen in time.
Sound of the space! 😁👌😍👍
OMG IS AMAZING IS THE FIUTURE 😱😱😱 I Lovett 😍😍😍
Wow. Incredible!!! wonderful perfomance!!! Great!!!!
You're absolutely amazing and humble, that's a rare treat today. Keep up the amazing work, you're performance is incredible, I could almost sweat in the paranoia of this piece. thumbs up for you!
;) Thats John!! It was a great exam- concert!
you could...but you didn't and Ligeti did. Ligeti is a great composer. come on man.
An amazing performance. I can understand why certain people might think this piece strange, but I think people can be so close minded to even listen. I'm no expert on Ligeti's music, but I think an open mind is a valuable thing to have.
Excellent performance!
In my opinion you had a clear understanding of the whole piece!
Wonderful!
This is my de-facto 'fucking' music.
Wow! Hey John, its Ron E. :) Nice to see you here on TH-cam! I just stumbled across this and went, "Hey, I know that guy!" ;) Nice job....hope to see many more videos of your great playing!
What the wanderful hands!!!
I was lucky enough to first hear this piece on record, away from the distraction of an ornately decorated harpsichord and it's rather hypnotic. It's not about the harpsichord but about the sonic textures. The eventual effect is like watching a spinning spoke wheel that, through a strobing effect suddenly appears to be rotating slowly backwards while rapidly spinning forward. It's not a Ligeti piece I'd listen too often but is quite effective.
Holy shit this is fantastic
So fitting for harpsichord too
3:12 like holy shit
This performance rocks!
Brilliant performance!! Bravo
Oh my god ! How is it possible to play that fast on a Harpsichord !
That's amazing ! I love this piece (even if my ears don't agree !)
That was one of the most sublime musical moments I've ever witnessed. The way he makes the wood of the instrument sing along, thump along, the percussive pangs of the manuals... And also the contagious exuberance of the performer! Thank you, Mr McKean, and may you continue your visionary artistry! This hereby joins Chojnacka's "Naama" in my pantheon.
Ligeti Minimalista? Sim, afinal o minimalismo já existe há séculos e os compositores contemporâneos continuam a enriquecê-lo e a dar-lhe um novo brilho!
it's so sick and so great, dam, excellent performance
John! Great job! wow. that is pretty intense harpsichord playing. Andrew C. sent me this link. It has been a long time since those gamba sonatas. You were great!
What an amazing sound to coax from that ancient device!
hi john! nice to hear you again!
I don`t know this piece, but it is played so impressive! Hypnotizing....
Un popolo di poeti, di artisti, di eroi, di santi, di pensatori, di scienziati, di navigatori, di trasmigratori - e treni in ritardo
" I was teleported into the darkest side of reality, and with this cold fusion i was forever intoxicated......"
Five people missed the like button... this is amazing
Waiting for the drop, holy cow.
Beautiful. Pure chaos.
Minimalism personified for the whole world. HAIL TH-cam: greatest medium since Gutenberg's! Movable BYTES!
Brilliant !
Wow that was so cool
Magnificent! Bravo!
Put on Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" after listening to this. Sonic kinship!
oh man, have you heard peter brotzmann's machine gun music? you might dig it
Fantastic!
I guess the best word I would think of describing this is 'sophisticated'.
It's complex and needs the right audience to be fully appreciated.
Ligeti, il genio della cacofonia. No aspetta, questa é musica avanzata, per palati raffinati.
This piece of Ligeti is very near from the steve Reich music ... it's really reperitive - minimalist music ! brilliant .
Let's turn that around though, it was Reich who started composing in that style after Ligeti did, like... Ligeti has done this stuff since the 50s
@@TomSistermans actually, that isn't the case. Certainly Ligeti had been composing for years before Reich had been, but not in a minimalist style, and Ligeti used elements of minimalism in some of his work, although he was never a minimalist composer as we understand the term in the mold of Young, Riley, Reich, and Glass. Incidentally, the second movement of Ligeti's '3 Pieces' for 2 pianos from 1976 is called, 'Self-Portrait with Reich and Riley (and Chopin in the Background)'. He was very familiar with Reich and the work of the minimalists, and acknowledged inspiration from them.
Awsome!!!!
beautiful!
I find Ligeti's work sonically intriguing and I understand it fine but I'd be lying if I said I liked listening to it very often. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with being repelled by Continuum nor is there anything wrong with being in love with it. To each his own. The only things wrong are A) making no effort to understand the piece and claiming that enjoyment of it is impossible or B) Believing that NOT enjoying this music is entirely due to some bourgeois construct
The comments here are littered with A and B and those engaging in A and B are overzealous assholes that should get a proper conceit of themselves...
To the performer: thank you for sharing this... yours was an excellent execution of a demanding piece.
BRAVO!!!
Wonderful.
Amazing!
4:25 Mobile phone ringtone? :D
This music carries you away.
Suggestion to add to the video description above: the year this piece was composed
this is a story about TIME. I like it
@Aquired2 yes I think you must be right here.... Ligeti has a far different approach than Glass... Thanks for the reply!
I really like that.
It reminds me the 2001 Space Oyssey.
This is a very unique piece of music
Probably because Ligeti was one of the people who wrote the music for 2001 Space Odyssey.
pure art
Interesting piece
Oh my word. He did the ending on the same manual!
Ligeti found some new music for the harpsichord. Poor old harpsichord never saw this coming
HEY TH-cam: pro tip. Continuum was written long before Justin Taylor or Alpha "licensed" it to you. John McKean recorded this well before Taylor's cd was made. And for the record, I prefer Mr. McKean's superlative performance.
ahhhh thats the kind of braintwist i need every morning:D
Wonder wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh no, Pokémon red just froze, and I can't turn the Gameboy off! What should I do?
Fraté ma se mballat o juoc?
Maravilloso.