The Poème Symphonique for 100 metronomes by 20th century composer György Ligeti that is played by an orchestra of 100 metronomes. It was composed in 1962. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... György Sándor Ligeti (born May 28, 1923) is a Hungarian composer (now living in, and a citizen of, Austria), widely seen as one of the great composers of instrumental music of the 20th century. ... A mechanical wind-up metronome in motion A metronome is a device that produces a strict rhythm. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Each metronome is wound to its maximum extent and then left to tick down. The sound at first is a staticy crackle, but after a few minutes patterns can be noticed in the sound and individual metronomes can be more clearly made out. The piece always ends with one final metronome that ticks alone for a few beats.

The work is an intersting exploration of the nature of sound, but is not a popular one for recreational listening. It is some of Ligeti's most modernistic and abstract music, reminiscent of John Cage. John Cage John Milton Cage (September 5, 1912–August 12, 1992) was an experimental music composer and writer, possibly best known (some might say notorious) for his piece 433, often described (somewhat erroneously) as four and a half minutes of silence. ...

Ligeti would later integrate metronomes in his 1971 Chamber Concerto. The work also is reminiscent of many of Ligeti's works in its slowly evolving landscapes of sound. It is an example of Ligeti's belief in micropolyphony. Micropolyphony is a type of 20th century musical texture involving the use of sustained dissonant chords that shift slowly over time. ...

External links

• Guide to putting on the piece (http://www.artnotart.com/fluxus/gligeti-poemesymphonique.html)