An Analysis Ligeti’s Composition: Musica Ricercata XI

Abstract

Musica Ricercata XI by Ligeti was composed in the form of Fugue based on twelve-tone system that can be considered as atonal music and with paying attention to the 5th intervals relative overall the piece can be considered that this piece is an atonal music with materials from tonal music disguised inside. Ligeti paid attention since creating the prime row by using groups of chromatic notes which are symmetry sets related in many dimensions. Ligeti used tone row straightforwardly by using row by row through the exposition of subject theme, he mostly used perfect 5th intervals and transposition row such as T7 row. However, he didn’t strictly in the rule of twelve-tone system. In part of fugal counterpoint process proceeded simply, the composer still use traditional structure of fugue to compose this piece.