GYRGY LIGETI- POEME SYMPHONIQUE 1962

for 100 metronomes - score

"Poeme Symphonique" (for 100 metronomes) requires, as its primary condition for
performance, 100 metronomes.
Their acquisition may be accomplished in several ways. For example, they may be
borrowed from one or more music instrument firms. (When the pertinent special sh
ops are not to be found on the spot, it is recommended that inquiry be made to t
his end at so-called music dealers). For the purpose of attaining the desired re
sult (i.e., the permission to borrow), some comments may be useful with regard t
o the value of the advertising to the firm, gained through its readiness to loan
. In this connection one may offer to print the name(s) of the firm(s) on the co
ncert poster, in the programme book or on a placard to be placed on the stage, o
r one or another combination of the listed possibilities. If necessary, the anno
uncement may take the form of verbal communication, either by itself or as a mea
ns of following up the printed announcement.
Another way to bring about the acquisition of the metronomes is the insert adver
tisements in the newspapers. In this case all private persons will be invited to
be so generous as to make temporarily available the metronomes in their possess
ion for use in the performance. In cities which have their own music schools*, t
his request can be made directly to the teaching staff or the student body, with
the assistance of the customary media of communication. In the two last-named i
nstances it is recommended that the owners of the required instruments be asked
to put some means of identification on them, to prevent their being misplaced or
mixed up. This can be achieved, for example, through the obligatory affixing of
the owner's name by means of a suitable strip of paper**.
Should it happen that a Maecenas makes it possible to borrow the metronomes for
the purpose of performance, his name- after consultation with the person in ques
tion- shall be made public.*** The composition is provided with a passe-partout
dedication: on each occasion the work is dedicated to the person (or persons) wh
o have helped to bring about the performance through the contribution of instrum
ents, by any means whatsoever, whether it be executive council of a city, one or
more of the music schools****, one or more businesses, one or more private pers
ons. If a patron can be found who will remove once for all the financial hindran
ces to the performability of the work by buying the necessary metronomes and gua
ranteeing the transportation costs which arise from time to time, "Poeme Symphon
ique" will be dedicated from then on to him alone.
In particular, the following instructions for performance are to be carried out:
1) It is preferred that pyramid-shaped metronomes be employed.
2) The work is performed by 10 players under the leadership of a conductor. Each
player operates 10 metronomes.
3) The metronomes must be brought onto the stage with a completely run-down cloc
kwork (that is, in an unwound condition). It is expedient that they be placed on
suitable resonators. Loudspeakers, distributed throughout the concert hall, can
serve to raise the dynamic level. It is recommended that each of the 10 groups
of 10 metronomes be arranged about a microphone which is connected to an appropr
iated loudspeaker*****. The distance between the metronome-group and the microph
onem as well as the regulation level of the allocated loudspeaker******, are to
be differently set in order to achieve the proper effects of closeness and dista
nce.
4) At a sign from the conductor the players wind up the metronomes. Following th
is, the speeds of the pendulums are set: within each group they must be differen
t for each instrument.
"Poeme Symphonique" may be performed in two versions:

1) All metronomes are wound equally tightly. In this version the chosen metronom
e numbers (oscillation speeds) wholly determine the time it will take for the se
veral metronomes to run down: those which swing faster will run down faster, the
others more slowly.
2) The several metronomes of a group are wound unequally: the first of the 10 me
tronomes the tightest, the second a little less, the tenth, the least tightly. C
are must be taken, however, that the winding and the regulation of the speeds of
the several metronomes are carried out completely independently of each other.
Thus the metronome in each group which has been most lightly wound must not be t
he fastest or the slowest in its oscillation.
The conductor arranges with the players beforehand the method and the degree of
winding.
The performance may be considered ideal, if
a) in the first version all the metronomes
b) in the second version the first metronome of each group
is(are) completely wound.
The ideal manner of performance is the obligatory one. Non-ideal performances ar
e only permitted if weighty reasons are present which force the occurrence of a
deviation from the ideal performance, such as the playing of a shortened version
of the work. In this unwelcome case the conductor must set, with the performers
, the number of turns for (1) all the metronomes or (2) the first of each group,
according to whether the first or second version is being played. The winding-u
p and the regulation of the oscillation speeds (the setting of the metronome num
ber) must be done ceremoniously and formally. At the conclusion of this preparat
ory activity comes a motionless silence of 2-6 minutes, the length of which is t
o be left to the discretion of the conductor. At a sign from the conductor******
*, all the metronomes are set in motion by the players. To carry out this action
as quickly as possible, it is recommended that several fingers of each hand be
used at the same time. With a sufficient amount of practise, the performers will
find that they can set 4 to 6 instruments in motion simultaneously. As soon as
the metronomes have been started in this fashion, the players absent themselves
as quietly as possible******** from the stage, led by the conductor, leaving the
metronomes to their own devices.
"Poeme Symphonique" is considered as ended when the last metronome has run down.
It is up to the conductor to decide when the last metronome has run down. It is
up to the conductor to decide the duration of the pause, before he leads the pl
ayers back on to the stage to receive the thanks due from the public.
(Translated by : Eugene Hartzell)
*resp., colleges of music
**It is recommended that the use of fountain pen or ball-point pen be prescribed
.
***See in this connection the paragraph on the music instrument firms.
****resp., colleges of music
*****or group of loudspeakers
******resp., group of loudspeakers
*******downbeat
********Suitable footwear is requested.