Ligeti Etudes: Practicing Atonal Music

[proklover]

I'm currently working on the Ligeti Etude no. 10. It is a very fast, atonal piece, and in some parts the notes are (or seem) completely random, and the rhythms towards the end become very inconsistent. I am particularly stuck on the part from measure 66-end ( the score can be found on imslp,  i think)

Does anyone have tips on practicing this type of music? Or better, has anyone played an etude by Ligeti, and do they have an suggestions?

Lastly, if you've never heard these etudes, I strongly suggest them. They definitely arent Chopin, but they are very interesting in texture and technique:

[zjazzchopin]

Hey, thanks for allowing me to discover this amazing composer. I'm listening to his music now, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. "The Devil's Staircase" in particular I really like.

My advice on learning atonal music, is prepare to spend a LOT of time on slow play. Take it very very slow and make sure you're getting all of the rhythms in the right spot. I'd also suggest listening to many different interpretations of it from other pianists to see how they approach it.

Have fun!

[proklover]

Hi!
youre welcome 
Ligeti etudes are truly amazing and great pieces...(did you know they were considered impossible to play in the 90's?)
anyway, thanks for the advice! I was already practicing it slow, but thanks anyways

[grandstaff]

Yeah I love ligeti... This is a little bit off topic, but has anyone ever noticed that "The Devil's Staircase" is etude no. 13?? I doubt that's a coincidence.

[slobone]

I'm not sure I'd describe that piece as atonal -- it doesn't seem any more advanced harmonically than Stravinsky. And the notes certainly aren't random.

My advice for learning modern music is to know the music so well that you never have to hesitate for a nanosecond about what note is coming next, or what finger you're going to play it with. Of course you have to do that with any piece, but it's going to take longer with somebody like Ligeti. I prefer slow practice, but you may hear differently from other people here.

[invictious]

Etude 10 is not atonal. It does have unusual harmonies, but it is not atonal. However, there is definitely polytonality.

The notes are not random either. There is a clear pattern to those flurry of notes just from listening to it. The rhythm is also not wholly inconsistent, but it is a simple case of placing emphasis on the first note on each group of notes.

PS I also recommend Yuja Wang's interpretation of this piece!