Síppal, dobbal, nádihegedűvel (With Pipes, Drums, Fiddles) (2000) is a song cycle in seven movements by the composer György Ligeti based on poetry by Sándor Weöres. The work is scored for mezzo-soprano and an unusual ensemble of percussion and wind instruments (including, in some songs, slide whistles and harmonicas). The lyrics are whimsical and often nonsensical, sometimes combining random Hungarian words or parts of words into a nonsense language.[1]
One of Ligeti's last works, it represents a synthesis of folk and avant-garde elements typical of his later compositions.[1] Ligeti wrote the piece for Amadinda Percussion Group and Katalin Károlyi (mezzo-soprano) and was premiered in 2000 in the Arsenal of Metz.[2]
Movements
The work is for mezzo-soprano accompanied by four percussionists. The percussion for the seven movements is as follows:
3 different snare drums and tom-tom, 1st soprano ocarina in C
Vibraphone
Bass marimba, 2nd soprano ocarina in C
Szajkó
Maraca, bass drum, tambourine, Japanese wood rattle, castanets, wood block, sistrum, chimes (unpitched), metal bar, güiro, small Japanese bell, tom-tom, 2 police whistles, railway whistle, triangle, 4 temple blocks, 2 different side drums, small suspended cymbal, lion's roar, big whip