György Ligeti’s 6 Bagatelles for Wind Quintet (1953) distill the essence of his piano cycle Musica ricercata. Each miniature explores a different expressive world – from the brutally restricted two-note opening to the frenetic, tongue-in-cheek finale. Ligeti’s transparent scoring reveals every detail, challenging wind players to balance precision with wild imagination. A landmark of the wind quintet repertoire.
Ligeti once said, "I am in a prison: one wall is the avant-garde, another is tradition, another is folk music. I want to break through all three." The 6 Bagatelles are his successful escape. And thanks to IMSLP, that escape route is open to anyone with a computer and a love for the impossible. ligeti 6 bagatelles for wind quintet imslp