György Ligetis `Horn Concerto`

This is a study on the microtonal aspects of Gyِrgy Ligetis Hamburgisches Konzert (Horn Concerto), with special reference to its relationship with the American composer Harry Partch, but also with Gérard Grisey and Claude Vivier. The special mixture of equal temperament versus just intonation is analyzed. The movement "Choral" is confronted with Harry Partchs idea of "tonality flux". The work is shown with its inherent long chain of exploratory forms of thought in Ligetis compositional work as to microtonality. The Viola Solo Sonata (1991-94) contains in the first movement "Hora lungă" a sign world new to Ligeti for natural intervals. He adopts these signs for the Hamburgisches Konzert. In an appendix, Ligeti himself is presented with several of his ideas about Partch, Vivier and microtonality on the whole, in an interview and in several of his writings.