List of quarter tone pieces

A selection of compositions using quarter tones:

A

B

Concert Variations for solo euphonium;[1] "each variation is based on different performance techniques of the instrument, including quarter-tones"[2]
Çoǧluotobüsişletmesi for four pianos.[3] "in which four of the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale are tuned a quarter tone flat"[4] The notes, B, D, E, and F-sharp on the keyboard are lowered in tuning by a quarter tone in all octaves.
...until' version 7 for guitar (1980)[5]
Concerto for Quarter Tone Piano and Quarter Tone Strings (1930)[6]
String Quartet No. 6; the third movement Burletta contains quarter-tone tuning used for parodistic effect.[7] Quarter tones are also used in Bartók's ballet The Miraculous Mandarin.[8][9]
Sonata for Solo Violin; the fourth movement Presto contains quarter-tones, but they are not "structural features."[10][11] This movement also calls for third-tones.
Violin Concerto no. 2; the cadenza in the final movement requires the use of quarter-tones, but only as an effect.[11][12]
Blurred Lines for violin and harpsichord (1997)[13][14]
Quarter-Tone Quartet, Op. 20[15]
Chamber Concerto, for violin, piano, and 13 winds.[16]
E vó (1972).[11]
Twelve Microtonal Etudes: "24 Notes: Moderato" (1980)[17]
Piano Quintet No. 1 (1923); the first movement features use of quarter-tones in the string parts.[11][18]
Prelude (2002), for two pianos tuned one quarter-tone apart.
Two pieces for string quartet (2002–2003); sporadic quarter-tone alterations.
Chemins fermés (2003), for 4 violins, cello and double-bass; extensive use of quarter-tone alterations (in the Iannis Xenakis tradition).
Etude (2013), for the dissonArt ensemble; use of quarter-tone alterations in string and wind writing.
Polyphonie X (1951).[19]
Le visage nuptial (1946).[11]

C

Capricho for piano in quarter-tones (1959)[20]
Capricho for solo viola in quarter-tones (1926)[20]
Casi-sonatas 1-6 for solo violin, viola or cello in quarter-tones (c.1960s)[20]
Concertino in quarter-, eighth- and sixteenth-tones for violin, cello and harp with orchestra (1926)[20]
Concerto for 1/4-tone and 1/8-tone cello and orchestra (1958)[20]
Concerto No. 1 for quarter-tone violin and orchestra (1963)[20]
Concerto No. 2 for quarter-tone violin and orchestra (1964)[20]
Mass for Pope John XXIII for male chorus in quarter-tones (1920s)[20]
Preludio a Cristobol Colón for vocalizing soprano, octavina, flute, harp, violin, and guitar (1922)[20]
Serenata for cello in quarter-tones with English horn, harp, and string quartet (1927)[20]
70 estudios for solo violin in quarter-tones (c. 1927?) {also for solo viola, cello, or double-bass}[20]
Sonata for solo guitar in quarter-tones (c.1924)[20]
Sonata (Amanecer en Berlin 13) for solo harp in quarter-tones (1931)[20]
Sonata casi fantasia for violin, violoncello and guitar in quarter-, eighth- and sixteenth-tones (1925)[20]
String Quartet in quarter-tones (c.1924) {There are also 7 others with some using smaller intervals.}[20]
Suite for solo guitar in quarter-tones (1960)[20]
3 estudios en forma de sonatina for solo violin in quarter-tones (1927)[20]
Symphony No. 1 (Colombia) for orchestra in quarter-tones (c.1924)[20]
Symphony No. 2 (Colombia) for orchestra in quarter-tones (1926)[20]
Vitebsk (1928).[11]
Chiaroscuro for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (1997)[11][21]
Xanadu for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (ca. 1930)[11]
Dirge for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart,[22] published in New Music quarterly (January 1937)[23]
Dirge for violin and piano (1937)
Rumba for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (ca. 1937)[24]

D

Reminiscences, 1971 for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone lower.[25]

E

Sonority Movement, for flute and nine harps.[26]
Soundtrack score for A Simple Plan features "very specific quarter tone detunings coming off the Emulator".[27]
Electric Bath[28]

F

Galaxe [Galaxy] (For 3 Quarter-Tone Guitars), Opus 46.[29]
Lux Subtilissima (2005), "Consort Musicke" set for microtonal string quartet[30] (1/4 and 1/6 tones are used)
En la soledat i el silenci (2007-2008), for hyper-tempered 13-string koto and guitar[30](quarter-tones are used)

G

Soundtrack score for Alien features quarter-tones
Quaternion for cello quartet, two of the cellos are tuned down a quarter tone[31][32]
Music for Flute, Strings, and Percussion, the strings are divided into two sections, one of which is tuned a quarter-tone lower than the other.[33]
Garten von Freuden und Traurigkeiten for flute, harp, and viola includes a quarter-sharp and three-quarter-sharp at one point in the piece.
In Erwartung for quartet of saxophones and six percussionists includes quarter-tone and three-quarter tone accidentals in saxophone parts.
Hommage à T. S. Eliot, microintervals are used in the parts of bassoon and clarinet

H

Velinikka, concerto for quarter tone accordion (2008)[34]
3 Hommages, for piano player on two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart[35]
"Hommage à Steve Reich" (1982)
"Hommage à György Ligeti" (1984)
"Hommage à Josef Matthias Hauer" (1982)
Children's Play for unaccompanied youth chorus, Op.43 (1932)
Chor-Suite for unaccompanied chorus, Op. 13 (1922)
5 Choruses for unaccompanied youth chorus, Op. 42 (1932)
5 Mixed Choruses, Op. 44 (1932)
Detské nálady (Children's Moods), 8-song cycle for mid-ranged voice and quartertone guitar, Op.51 (1943)
Fantasy No. 1 for quartertone piano, Op. 17 (1923)
Fantasy No. 2 for quartertone piano, Op. 19 (1924)
Fantasy No. 3 for quartertone piano, Op. 20 (1924)
Fantasy No. 4 for quartertone piano, Op. 25 (1925)
Fantasy No. 5 for quartertone piano, Op. 26 (1925)
Fantasy No. 6 for quartertone piano, Op. 27 (1926)
Fantasy No. 7 for quartertone piano, Op. 28 (1926)
Fantasy No. 8 for quartertone piano, Op. 29 (1926)
Fantasy No. 9 for quartertone piano, Op. 30 (1926)
Fantasy No. 10 for quartertone piano, Op. 31 (1926)
Fantasy No. 11 for quartertone piano, Op. 89 (1959)
Fantasy for unaccompanied violin, Op. 9a (1921)[20]
Fantasy for unaccompanied violoncello, Op. 18 (1924)
Fantasy for violin and quartertone piano, Op. 21 (1925)[20]
Fantasy for viola and quartertone piano, Op. 32 (1926)
Fantasy for violoncello and quartertone piano, Op. 33 (1927)
Já (I) for unaccompanied men's chorus, Op. 36 (1928)
Matka (The Mother), quartertone opera in 10 scenes, Op. 35 (1927-29)[20]
Poesie zivota (Poetry of Life), 12-song cycle for soprano and quartertone guitar, Op. 53 (1943)
Pracující den (The working day) for unaccompanied male voices, Op. 45 (1932)
Solo for violin Op. 93 (1961-62)[20]
Sonata for quartertone piano, Op. 62 (1946-47)[20]
String Quartet No. 2 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 7 (1920)[20]
String Quartet 3 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 12 (1922)
String Quartet 4 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 14 (1922)
String Quartet 6 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 70 (1950)
String Quartet No. 12 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 90 (1959-60)[20]
String Quartet 14 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 94 (1963)
Suite No. 1 for quartertone piano, Op. 10 (1922, revised in 1932 as Op. 11a)
Suite No. 2 for quartertone piano, Op. 11 (1922, revised in 1932 as Op. 11b)
Suite No. 3 for quartertone piano, Op. 16 (1923)
Suite No. 4 for quartertone piano, Op. 22 (1924)
Suite No. 5 for quartertone piano, Op. 23 (1925)
Suite No. 6 for quartertone piano, Op. 88 (1957-59)[20]
Suite for clarinet and quartertone piano, Op. 24 (1925)[20]
1st Suite for quartertone guitar, Op. 54 (1943)
2nd Suite for quartertone guitar, Op. 63 (1947)
Suite for clarinet (unaccompanied), Op. 55 (1943)
Suite for quartertone trumpet and trombone, Op. 56 (1944)
Suite in quartertones for 4 trombones, Op. 72 (1950)[20]
Prométhée enchaîné (1849)[36]
Acid Bach Suite for quartertone-tuned synthesizer[37]
Quarter Dollar Tones for solo cello[38]
The Song of R'lyeh for violin octet[39]
Grigri for saxophone quartet[40]
Dans le délire de l'inutile for alto saxophone and piano[41]
String Quartet No. 5 (1962).[11]
O Lord, Bless Thy Mountains, Op. 276, for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (1974)[11][42]

I

Quarter-Tone Pieces (3), for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone sharp, S. 128 (K. 3C3) (1923-1924)[43][44]

J

K

String Quartet No. 2 (1931) - lost or withdrawn?
Symphony No. 4 Das Testament (1972)
Duo for Violin and Viola in the 1/4 tone system (1939-40)
Hyperchromatic Counterpoint for quarter-tone accordion and 5.0 surround tape (2006-2009)

L

"Divination By Mirrors for Saw and Strings" (1998). Two string groups tuned a quarter-step apart with a musical saw soloist playing in both pitch universes.
Clocks and Clouds for 12-voiced women's choir and orchestra.[45]
Quartet No. 2 for strings.[46]
Ramifications for 12 solo strings (1968-69), divided into two groups tuned a quarter-tone apart.[47][48][49][50][51][52]
Sonata for Solo Viola, includes 1/4, 1/6, and 1/8 tones.[53]
Prélude, op. 12 #2 for quarter-tone piano (1912)

M

Street Cries (11.10.83) for solo Bb clarinet features extensive use of quarter tones in all three movements.[54]
Soundtrack score for Wait Until Dark (1967) features extensive use of quarter-tones including two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart[55]
The Night Visitor[56]
Indigenous Instruments[57]
On All Fours[57]
Deux monodies en quarts de ton (1938).[58]

N

O

Circles Mostly in Wood, a quarter-tone wind quintet in five movements (2002)[59]
Fair and Balanced, a quarter-tone saxophone quartet[60] in four short movements (2004)

P

Emanations (Emanacje, 1959) for two string orchestras tuned a semitone apart
Passio et mors Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum Lucam {St Luke Passion (Penderecki)} (1966)
Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, for string orchestra, frequently makes use of quarter tones.[61]
Symphony No. 1 (1973), heavily quarter-tone, including clusters.

Q

R

Prélude for Strings
Suite for Unaccompanied Violin, op. 6 (1938)
Septet for clarinet, two trombones, violin, viola, cello, and doublebass, op. 9 (1938)
Suite for 10 Strings (4 vn, 3 va, 2, vc, db), op. 10 (1938)
Duo for Violin and Cello, op. 11 (1938)
Quartet for 4 trombones (performed at the ISCM World New Music Days in 1939, composed earlier?)
Soundtrack score for Sybil (1976) features quarter-tones

S

Piano Quintet
Natural Selections (String Quartet No. 2) (2009/10): restricted to open strings and octave harmonics
Zwei Konzertstücke, Op. 26, 1906[62]
Pietà, for soprano, quarter-tone flugelhorn, and electronic music, from the opera Dienstag aus Licht[63]
Schlagquartett, for piano and 3 x 2 timpani (1952)[64]
Prélude
Suite, Op. 56, No. 1 Mode Bayati: mijana-errêdde-hida-ala'mayyem-oumi thaddare ya Zêna-'al yadi
Suite, Op. 56, No. 2 Mode Huzam: marmar zamani-al'of mach'al-ya hnayyina-a'rrozana-ya laylu'ssabi-meshta'erja'adday'a
Suite, Op. 59, No. 1 Mode Iraqi: takassim-remmanâ ya habibi-Idi widak'al wadi-ah ya asmar el lawn-bouzzoulof-ya ghzayel
Remmanâk yâ habîbi
Jamlo
Sâfar Zamâni
Idi w'iadk 'al wadi
Ala 'mayyam
Yal laylous'sabi
Bellazi askar
Suite populaire libanaise en ré rast, Op. 17, for string quartet
Fantaisie orientale en ☺ré saba, Op. 52. for cello
Suite en la bayali, Op. 80, for solo violin
Quatre morceaux, for voice and piano, Op. 44

T

Bryce (1976).[11]
The Angelus (words by Dennis Corbett) for baritone & quartertone piano or keyboard
Hot Cross Buns for quarter-tone pianos
Little Pieces for quarter-tone piano[65]
Quartertone Carol for high voice with alto, tenor, and bass recorders
Quartertone Lullabies 1 and 2 for alto, tenor, and bass recorder
Quartertone Lullaby 3 (Midnight Microtone) for alto recorder, flute, and clarinet
Quartertone Recorder Duets[65]
Romanza for solo recorder.[66][67]
Sarabande: Dance for Miriam Cooper, for microtonal harpsichord (1986)[68]
Sonata No. 1 for Solo Recorder ("The Bullfinch").[67][69]
Vigils 1 and 2 for quarter-tone organ

U

V

W

Quatre fragments, for 2 pianos in quarter tones (2nd version), Op. 5 (1918)
Chant douloureux et étude, for violin & piano, Op. 6 (1918)[70]
Méditation sur deux thèmes de la Journée de l'existence, for cello & piano, Op. 7 (1918–1919)
L'Évangile Rouge, cycle for voice & 2 pianos in quarter tones (2nd version), Op. 8 (1918–1920)
Chants sur Nietzsche (2), for baritone & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 9 (1923)
Variations sur la note Do, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 10 (1918–1920)
Chant nocturne, for violin & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 11 (1927)
Dithyrambe, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 12 (1923–1924, revised vers. by Bruce Mather, 1991)
String Quartet No. 1, Op. 13 (1923-1924)
Chœurs (2, words by A. Pomorsky), for mixed choir, 4 pianos in quarter tones & percussions, Op. 14 (1926)
Prélude et fugue sur un chant de l'Évangile rouge, for quartertone piano, version for string quartet (lost), Op. 15 (1927)
Prélude et danse, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 16 (1926)
Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra, symphonie, for 4 pianos in quarter tones (sketches for orchestration in Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris), Op. 17 (1929–1930, revised 1936, Ed. L'Oiseau-Lyre)
String Quartet No 2, Op. 18 (1930–1931)
Études de concert(2), for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 19 (1931)
Étude en forme de scherzo, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 20 (1931)
Prélude et fugue, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 21 (1932)
Pièces (2), for 2 pianos in quarter tones, without Op. (1934)
Premier fragment symphonique, for 4 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 23a; for orchestra, Op. 23c (1934, orch. vers. 1967)
Deuxième fragment symphonique, for 4 pianos in quarter tones, timpani & percussions, Op. 24 (1937)
Poème, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, without Op. (1937)
Linnite, pantomime in 1 act & 5 scenes, for 3 voices & 4 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 25 (1937)
Préludes dans tous les tons de l'échelle chromatique diatonisée à 13 sons (24), for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 22 (1934, rev. 1960)
À Richard Wagner, for baritone & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 26 (1934)
Acte chorégraphique, for bass-baritone, mixed choir, 4 pianos in quarter tones, percussions & ad. lib. instruments (viola, clarinet in C & balalaika), Op. 27 (1937-1940)
Cosmos, for 4 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 28 (1939–1940)[71]
Chants russes (2), for bass-baritone & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 29 (1940–1941)
Troisième fragment symphonique, for 4 pianos in quarter tones & ad. lib. percussions, Op. 31 (1946)
Fugues (2), for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 32 (1951)
Variations sans thème et conclusion (5), for orchestra, Op. 33 (1951–1952)[72]
Sonate en un mouvement, for viola & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 34 (1945–1959)
Transparence I, for Onde Martenot & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 35 (1953)
Quatrième fragment symphonique, for 4 Ondes Martenot & 4 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 38c (1956)
Polyphonies spatiales, for piano, harmonium, Ondes Martenot, percussion & string orchestra, Op. 39 (1956)
Études sur les densités et les volumes, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 39b (1956)
Dialogue à deux, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 41 (1958–1973)
Dialogue, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, 8 hands, without Op. (1959)
Composition en quarts de ton for string quartet Op. 43 (1960)
Études sur les mouvements rotatoires, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, 8 hands, Op. 45a; for chamber orchestra, Op. 45c (1961)
Composition II, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 46b (1960)
Transparence II, for Onde Martenot & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 47 (1962–1963)
Intégrations, for 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 49 (1962)
L'Éternel Étranger, opera, for voices, mixed choir, 4 pianos in quarter tones, percussions and orchestra (unfinished orchestration), Op. 50 (1940-1960)
Symphonie en un mouvement, for orchestra, Op. 51b (1969)
Composition, for Ondes Martenot quartet, Op. 52 (no date)
String Trio, Op. 53 (1979, unfinished, completed by Claude Ballif)
Trauergesang, Epigrammen, Ein Stück, for quartertone piano, without Op. (undated, found by M. Smolka in Alois Hába's archives in 1992)

X

Y

Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27 (1924), Nos 3 & 5[73]

Z

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Notes

  1. ↑ Saito 2008, p. 12.
  2. ↑ "Concert Variations", JanBach.com.
  3. ↑ Op de Coul 2012. "Uses quarter tones."
  4. ↑ Clements 2008.
  5. ↑ Couture, François. "...until... - Clarence Barlow", AllMusic.com.
  6. ↑ Gagné 2012, p. 26.
  7. ↑ Read 1990, p. 51.
  8. ↑ Somfai 1996, p. 269.
  9. ↑ Bayley 2001, p. 168.
  10. ↑ Riley 1996, p. 275.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 11.10 Gagné 2012, 217.
  12. ↑ Read 1990, p. 52.
  13. ↑ Johnston 2013.
  14. ↑ Michaels 2013.
  15. ↑ Skinner 2007, p. vii.
  16. ↑ Read 1964, pp. 143–44.
  17. ↑ Skinner 2007, p. 45.
  18. ↑ Read 1990, p. 58.
  19. ↑ Boulez 1986, 129–31.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 20.10 20.11 20.12 20.13 20.14 20.15 20.16 20.17 20.18 20.19 20.20 20.21 20.22 20.23 20.24 20.25 20.26 20.27 20.28 Read 1990, p. 2.
  21. ↑ Latham 2008, p. 11.
  22. ↑ Hinson 1983, p. 42.
  23. ↑ Couper 1937.
  24. ↑ Saffle 2000, p. 230.
  25. ↑ Hinson 1983, pp. 52–53.
  26. ↑ "The nine harps are divided into three groups of three and tuned in sixth-tones, and the flute plays in quarter-steps". Keislar 1991, p. 185.
  27. ↑ Lanser and Monahan [1999].
  28. ↑ "At some point, he outfitted his entire trumpet section with four-valved trumpets whose additional valve allowed them to play quarter-tones" (Oteri 2004, n. 12).
  29. ↑ Anon. 2011.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Forlivesi 2010.
  31. ↑ Anon. 2001, p. 347.
  32. ↑ Anon. 2007, p. 106.
  33. ↑ Kurtz, Brown, and Lohmann 2007, p. 232.
  34. ↑ Ahola 2012.
  35. ↑ "Georg Friedrich Haas: 3 Hommages", UniversalEdition.com.
  36. ↑ Macdonald 2001.
  37. ↑ Gann 1999.
  38. ↑ Quarter Dollar Tones: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  39. ↑ The Song of R'lyeh: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
  40. ↑ Grigri: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  41. ↑ Dans le délire de l'inutile: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  42. ↑ Rosner and Wolverton 2001.
  43. ↑ Pappastavrou 1974.
  44. ↑ Sherwood 2002, pp. 123–26.
  45. ↑ Steinitz 2003, p. 201. However, Duchesneau 2011, p. 135 states that Ramifications is Ligeti's "only work in quarter tones".
  46. ↑ Steinitz 2003, p. 183. However, Duchesneau 2011, p. 135 states that Ramifications is Ligeti's "only work in quarter tones".
  47. ↑ Clendinning 1993, p. 219.
  48. ↑ Duchesneau 2011, p. 135.
  49. ↑ Griffiths 2001.
  50. ↑ Roig-Francolí 1995, p. 244.
  51. ↑ Steinitz 2003, pp. 179–80.
  52. ↑ Toop 1999, pp. 134–35.
  53. ↑ Duchesneau 2011, p. 135 states that Ramifications is Ligeti's "only work in quarter tones".
  54. ↑ Richards 1992, .
  55. ↑ Benedetti, Michael, and Bernie 2004, p. 134.
  56. ↑ Brown 1994, pp. 177–78.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Froom 1994, p. 135.
  58. ↑ Gagné 2012, p. 172.
  59. ↑ Oteri, Frank J. "Circles Mostly in Wood", NewMusicUSA.org.
  60. ↑ "Who We Are", NewMusicBox.org.
  61. ↑ He et al. 2006,.
  62. ↑ Benson 2007, p. 228.
  63. ↑ Brotbeck 2004, pp. 56–57.
  64. ↑ "Konträr-Klangräume: 6 Pauken, deren Stimmung ganztönig, und zur Klavierstimmung vierteltönig verschoben". Stockhausen 1964, p. 15.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Hansen 2005, 285.
  66. ↑ "An arrow head pointing down over a note lowers it approximately a quarter step". Tucker 1970, 7.
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 "Both pieces require performing techniques not encountered in traditional music for recorder. The most striking is the production of quarter-tones, notated as pitches in the chromatic scale to be lowered slightly. Charts provided by the composer give fingering for all half- and quarter-tones from the low f' up to a precarious c''''". Hettrick 1971.
  68. ↑ "'V' over a tone lowers it a quartertone … 'V' below a group of tones lowers that group a quartertone". Tucker 1986, 2–3.
  69. ↑ "An arrow head pointing down over a note lowers it approximately a quarter step". Tucker 1970, 4.
  70. ↑ Anon 1997, p. 921.
  71. ↑ Maxwell 1993, p. 103.
  72. ↑ Read 1990, p. 76.
  73. ↑ Ysaÿe 1924, pp. 24, 26, 39, and 43.

References