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 RUclips, 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. ruclips.net/video/G6eFD9WVPoQ/видео.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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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!
@@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 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!
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.
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!
OMG,,,,,Ligeti is so exciting to listen to,,,,,, so unbelievably FRESH,,,,,, ONE OF THE GREATS OF ANY CENTURY!!!!!!!!!! Thank You for posting this Treasure!!!!!!!
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.
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.
Wow! Hey John, its Ron E. :) Nice to see you here on RUclips! I just stumbled across this and went, "Hey, I know that guy!" ;) Nice job....hope to see many more videos of your great playing!
UuN NUEVO MUNDO DE SONIDOS, AUNQUE LA NATURALEZA LOS BRINDA A MENUDO, PERO LOS MUSICOS SON LOS QUE COMPONEN SONICAMENTE EL MUNDO NATURAL.GRAN INTERPRETACION DE UN GRAN COMPOSITOR LLENO DE ESPACIO Y PUNTOS DEL TIEMPO.
Brilliant. Forget the sheer speed and stamina, the feat of zen necessary to keep this together with polyrhythms too fast to consciously fully account for is what impresses me the most. I learned Musica Ricercata 7 last year, probably took ~20 total hours in the woodshed to get that septuplet ostinato sharp and automatic enough to manage the piece.
HEY RUclips: 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.
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!
I understan what you're saying. The thing is that, in more classical music, the rythm, texture, and harmony used to be in alower "stratum", supporting the melody. This is not like that anymore, at least in contemporary music. Right now, in some cases, there isn't a higher step.In other cases, like this one, it's the texture the one that gets the protagonism, while the rest of the factors are there to support IT.The thing is, we're used to paying attention to the melody only,that's why it's hard.
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.
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.
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
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 RUclips, 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.
ruclips.net/video/G6eFD9WVPoQ/видео.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.
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.
It seems like decades since I've heard this. I never thought I'd find it again. Thanks!
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.
Excellent. What's your high score?
Joking aside, really inspiring.
Aliens hear that in space and write back "It's YOUR mom!"
I enjoyed it. Hearing it is like escaping to another sphere, of light, of absolute Reality.
Already my favourite harpsichord piece
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)
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.
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.
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.
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!
uah! grandioso! bellissimo! La Musica della meccanica quantistica e dell'universo in espansione... fantastica! uah! 💥💥💥🌜✨🌛💥💥💥
When the inventor of the harpsichord hears this music and starts spinning in his grave... this is what it sounds like.
nice
Magnifique ! Extraordinaire composition et excellent interprète.
Grandiose music, grandiosely played!
Wonderful playing ! From Philippines :)
Holy shit this is crazy! I've listened to a lot of Ligeti by now but he just keeps surprising me!
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!
Bravissimo, many thanks from Italy.
Brilliant performance! Thanks and congrats!
Sound of the space! 😁👌😍👍
OMG IS AMAZING IS THE FIUTURE 😱😱😱 I Lovett 😍😍😍
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.
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.
Absolutely awesome piece and awesome playing
Wow. Incredible!!! wonderful perfomance!!! Great!!!!
Excellent performance!
In my opinion you had a clear understanding of the whole piece!
Wonderful!
Speechless. That was brilliant. Holy crap. Give that guy a beer.
This performance rocks!
I don`t know this piece, but it is played so impressive! Hypnotizing....
oh my. flawless. the speed of your repetitions at 5:00 are incredible.
ligeti would be proud.
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
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!
Brilliant performance!! Bravo
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.
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!
Every few years I return to listen to this masterpiece.
OMG,,,,,Ligeti is so exciting to listen to,,,,,, so unbelievably FRESH,,,,,, ONE OF THE GREATS OF ANY CENTURY!!!!!!!!!! Thank You for posting this Treasure!!!!!!!
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.
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.
What an amazing sound to coax from that ancient device!
Wow! Hey John, its Ron E. :) Nice to see you here on RUclips! I just stumbled across this and went, "Hey, I know that guy!" ;) Nice job....hope to see many more videos of your great playing!
it's so sick and so great, dam, excellent performance
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 !)
BRAVO !!!
This is my de-facto 'fucking' music.
;) Thats John!! It was a great exam- concert!
What the wanderful hands!!!
this is like the greatest musical piece ever created. thank you so much McKean and Ligeti
sure
Yes!! Finally someone who realizes this.
hi john! nice to hear you again!
@Aquired2 yes I think you must be right here.... Ligeti has a far different approach than Glass... Thanks for the reply!
UuN NUEVO MUNDO DE SONIDOS, AUNQUE LA NATURALEZA LOS BRINDA A MENUDO, PERO LOS MUSICOS SON LOS QUE COMPONEN SONICAMENTE EL MUNDO NATURAL.GRAN INTERPRETACION DE UN GRAN COMPOSITOR LLENO DE ESPACIO Y PUNTOS DEL TIEMPO.
Magnificent! Bravo!
Brilliant. Forget the sheer speed and stamina, the feat of zen necessary to keep this together with polyrhythms too fast to consciously fully account for is what impresses me the most. I learned Musica Ricercata 7 last year, probably took ~20 total hours in the woodshed to get that septuplet ostinato sharp and automatic enough to manage the piece.
Wow that was so cool
Holy shit this is fantastic
So fitting for harpsichord too
3:12 like holy shit
HEY RUclips: 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.
Beautiful. Pure chaos.
Ligeti, il genio della cacofonia. No aspetta, questa é musica avanzata, per palati raffinati.
Un popolo di poeti, di artisti, di eroi, di santi, di pensatori, di scienziati, di navigatori, di trasmigratori - e treni in ritardo
No sé quién es más genio, si el compositor o el intérprete. ¡Tremendo!
Brilliant !
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.
beautiful!
you could...but you didn't and Ligeti did. Ligeti is a great composer. come on man.
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.
Five people missed the like button... this is amazing
Great performance! This piece was composed for two programed pianos actually!
4:25 Mobile phone ringtone? :D
Amazing!
This is what my anxiety feels like
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!
Waiting for the drop, holy cow.
Awsome!!!!
Fantastic!
Oh no, Pokémon red just froze, and I can't turn the Gameboy off! What should I do?
Fraté ma se mballat o juoc?
Wonderful.
" I was teleported into the darkest side of reality, and with this cold fusion i was forever intoxicated......"
I really like that.
I understan what you're saying. The thing is that, in more classical music, the rythm, texture, and harmony used to be in alower "stratum", supporting the melody. This is not like that anymore, at least in contemporary music. Right now, in some cases, there isn't a higher step.In other cases, like this one, it's the texture the one that gets the protagonism, while the rest of the factors are there to support IT.The thing is, we're used to paying attention to the melody only,that's why it's hard.
pure art
this is a story about TIME. I like it
Suggestion to add to the video description above: the year this piece was composed
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.
Maravilloso.
IT MADE ME CRY =')
great performance. I find this piece really trippy.
Oh my word. He did the ending on the same manual!