List of quarter tone pieces explained

A selection of compositions using quarter tones:

A

• Thomas Adès
  • Asyla calls for an upright piano tuned a quarter-tone flat.

B

• Jan Bach
  • Concert Variations for solo euphonium; "each variation is based on different performance techniques of the instrument, including quarter-tones"^[1]
• Clarence Barlow
  • Çoǧluotobüsişletmesi for four pianos.^[2] "in which four of the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale are tuned a quarter tone flat"
  • ...until version 7 for guitar (1980).
    • Concerto for Quarter Tone Piano and Quarter Tone Strings (1930)
• Béla Bartók
  • String Quartet No. 6

the third movement Burletta contains quarter-tone tuning used for parodistic effect. Quarter tones are also used in Bartók's ballet The Miraculous Mandarin.

• • Sonata for Solo Violin

the fourth movement Presto contains quarter-tones, but they are not "structural features." This movement also calls for third-tones.

• • Violin Concerto No. 2

the cadenza in the first movement requires the use of quarter-tones, but only as an effect.

• John Beckwith
  • Blurred Lines for violin and harpsichord (1997)
• Jack Behrens
  • Quarter-Tone Quartet, Op. 20.
• Alban Berg
  • Chamber Concerto, for violin, piano, and 13 winds.
• Luciano Berio
  • E vó (1972).
• Easley Blackwood Jr.
  • Twelve Microtonal Etudes for Electronic Music Media

"24 Notes: Moderato" (1980).

• Ernest Bloch
  • Piano Quintet No. 1 (1923); the first movement features use of quarter-tones in the string parts.
• Pierre Boulez
  • Polyphonie X (1951).
  • Le Visage nuptial (1946).

C

• Jacob Collier
  • In the Bleak Midwinter for 10 Vocalists (2016)^[3]
• Julián Carrillo
  • Capricho for piano in quarter-tones (1959)
  • Capricho for solo viola in quarter-tones (1926)
  • Casi-sonatas 1–6 for solo violin, viola or cello in quarter-tones (c.1960s)
  • Concertino in quarter-, eighth- and sixteenth-tones for violin, cello and harp with orchestra (1926)
  • Concerto for 1/4-tone and 1/8-tone cello and orchestra (1958)
  • Concerto No. 1 for quarter-tone violin and orchestra (1963)
  • Concerto No. 2 for quarter-tone violin and orchestra (1964)
  • Mass for Pope John XXIII for male chorus in quarter-tones (1920s)
  • Preludio a Colón for vocalizing soprano, octavina (modified bass guitar, in 8th tones), flute, 16th-tone harp, violin, and guitar (1922)
  • Serenata for cello in quarter-tones with English horn, harp, and string quartet (1927)
  • 70 estudios for solo violin in quarter-tones (c. 1927?)
  • Sonata for solo guitar in quarter-tones (c.1924)
  • Sonata (Amanecer en Berlin 13) for solo harp in quarter-tones (1931)
  • Sonata casi fantasia for violin, violoncello and guitar in quarter-, eighth- and sixteenth-tones (1925)
  • String Quartet in quarter-tones (c.1924)
  • Suite for solo guitar in quarter-tones (1960)
  • 3 estudios en forma de sonatina for solo violin in quarter-tones (1927)
  • Symphony No. 1 (Colombia) for orchestra in quarter-tones (c.1924)
  • Symphony No. 2 (Colombia) for orchestra in quarter-tones (1926)
• Aaron Copland
  • Vitebsk (1928).
• John Corigliano
  • Chiaroscuro for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (1997)
• Mildred Couper
  • Xanadu for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (ca. 1930)
  • Dirge for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart, published in New Music quarterly (January 1937)
  • Rumba for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (ca. 1937)

D

• John Diercks
  • Reminiscences, 1971 for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone lower.

E

• John Eaton
  • Sonority Movement, for flute and nine harps.^[4]
• Danny Elfman
  • Soundtrack score for A Simple Plan features "very specific quarter tone detunings coming off the Emulator".
• Don Ellis
  • Electric Bath^[5]
• George Enescu
  • Œdipe (opera)
  • Third Violin Sonata ("In Popular Romanian Style")

F

• Bjørn Fongaard
  • Galaxe [Galaxy] (for three quarter-tone guitars), Opus 46.
• John Foulds
  • Cello Sonata (1905, rev. 1927), passages in the second movement

G

• Sofia Gubaidulina
  • Quaternion for cello quartet, two of the cellos are tuned down a quarter tone
  • 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.

H

• Sampo Haapamäki
  • Velinikka, concerto for quarter-tone accordion (2008)
  • Conception, double concerto for quarter-tone guitar, quarter-tone accordion and orchestra (2012)
  • Quarter-Tone Piano Concerto (2017)
• Georg Friedrich Haas
  • 3 Hommages, for piano player on two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart^[6]
    • "Hommage à Steve Reich" (1982)
    • "Hommage à György Ligeti" (1984)
    • "Hommage à Josef Matthias Hauer" (1982)
• Alois Hába
  • 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)
  • Fantasy for unaccompanied violoncello, Op. 18 (1924)
  • Fantasy for violin and quartertone piano, Op. 21 (1925)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Sonata for quartertone piano, Op. 62 (1946–47)
  • String Quartet No. 2 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 7 (1920)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Suite for clarinet and quartertone piano, Op. 24 (1925)
  • 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)
• Fromental Halévy
  • Prométhée enchaîné (1849)
• Jonathan Harvey
  • Valley of Aosta for chamber ensemble of 13 players and electronics (1988)
• Lejaren Hiller
  • String Quartet No. 5 (1962).
• Alan Hovhaness
  • O Lord, Bless Thy Mountains, Op. 276, for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (1974)

I

• Charles Ives
  • Three Quarter-Tone Pieces, for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone sharp, S. 128 (K. 3C3) (1923–24)
  • Symphony No. 4 (1910–1924)

K

• Jeronimas Kačinskas
  • String Quartet No. 2 (1931) (lost? withdrawn?)
  • Trio for trumpet, viola, and harmonium (1933) ^[7]
• Gideon Klein
  • Duo for violin and viola in the Quartertone System (1940)
• György Kurtág
  • Lebenslauf, Op. 32 (1992)

L

• Michael A. Levine
  • Divination by Mirrors for Saw and Strings. Strings are divided into two groups of 13 tuned 1/4 step apart. Each group plays only in its own pitch "universe". The featured bowed saw freely moves from standard tuning to pitches a 1/4 step away. Premiered at Merkin Concert Hall, New York City, 1998 by the New York Virtuosi and Dale Stuckenbruck saw soloist.^[8]
• György Ligeti
  • Clocks and Clouds for 12-voiced women's choir and orchestra.^[9]
  • Quartet No. 2 for strings.^[10]
  • Ramifications for 12 solo strings (1968–69), divided into two groups tuned a quarter-tone apart.^[11]
• Arthur Lourié
  • Prelude for piano "with higher chromatism", Op.12 No.2 (1912).
• Alain Louvier
  • Anneaux de Lumière (1983) for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone apart (1 player)

M

• • • Street Cries (11.10.83) for solo B♭ clarinet features extensive use of quarter tones in all three movements.
• Henry Mancini
  • Soundtrack score for Wait Until Dark (1967) features extensive use of quarter-tones including two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart
  • The Night Visitor
• Steve Mackey
  • Indigenous Instruments
  • On All Fours
• Andrew March
  • Aeolian Rustling (2001) for alto flute (Boehm system) and harp, with Kingma System alto flute ossia.
  • XXIX—in Perpetuum (2001) for solo Kingma System quarter-tone alto flute.
  • Water Lilies (2001) for solo alto flute and harp, with Kingma System quarter-tone alto flute ossia.
  • Memoriam (2002) for Kingma System quarter-tone alto flute, vibraphone, marimba, harp and strings.
• Rytis Mažulis
  • Quartertone Canon for two piano tuned a quarter-tone apart (2010)
  • Sans Pause for string quartet (2001)
• Olivier Messiaen
  • Deux monodies en quarts de ton (1938).

N

• Per Nørgård
  • String Quartet No. 5 'Inscape' (1969)

O

• Frank J. Oteri
  • Circles Mostly in Wood, a quarter-tone wind quintet in five movements (2002)
  • Fair and Balanced, a quarter-tone saxophone quartet in four short movements (2004)

P

• Krzysztof Penderecki
  • Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, for string orchestra, frequently makes use of quarter tones.

R

• Karel Reiner
  • Fantasy for quarter-tone piano (1935-36)
  • Five songs for voice with violin accompaniment in quarter-tones to texts by Karel Hynek Mácha (1936, performed at the 1938 ISCM Festival in Paris)
  • 3 Duos for 2 quarter-tone clarinets (1972)
  • Suite for quarter-tone piano (1935-36)
• Milan Ristić
  • Duo for violin and violoncello, Op. 11 (1938)
  • Septet for clarinet, 2 trombones, string trio, and doublebass, Op. 9 (1938)
  • Suite for unaccompanied violin, Op. 6 (1938)
  • Suite for ten strings, Op. 10 (1938)
  • Suite for four trombones, Op. 8 (1938, scheduled for performance during the 1939 ISCM Festival in Warsaw but the performance could not take place)

S

• Ezra Sims
  • String Quartet No. 3 (1962)
• Richard Stein
  • Zwei Konzertstücke, Op. 26, 1906.
• Karlheinz Stockhausen
  • Pietà, for soprano, quarter-tone flugelhorn, and electronic music, from the opera Dienstag aus Licht
  • Schlagquartett, for piano and 3 x 2 timpani (1952)^[12]
• Billy Strange
  • These Boots Are Made for Walkin', 1966 popular song, sung by Nancy Sinatra, with a prominent quarter tone double bass riff.^[13]

T

• Tōru Takemitsu
  • Bryce (1976).
• James Tenney
  • Bridge for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart (1984)
• Jukka Tiensuu
  • Kymmari for Decacorde (2016)
  • Anomal Dances Concerto for quarter-tone accordion and orchestra (2015)
  • Kuuhiomo a proludi in quarter tones for any ensemble of melody instruments (2015)
  • Arsenic and Old Lace for micro-tonally tuned harpsichord, string quartet (1990)
  • Narcissus for oboe and tape (1979)
• Tui St. George Tucker
  • Amoroso for solo clarinet
  • Indian Summer for 2 baritones with 2 flutes, clarinet, bassoon, trombone, viola, and percussion
  • Little Pieces for quarter-tone piano
  • My Melancholy Baby Fantasy for one player performing on two pianos at a right angle tuned a quarter-tone apart
  • Quartertone Carol for recorder trio
  • Quartertone Recorder Duets
  • Quartertone Lullubies 1–3 for recorder trio
  • Romanza for solo recorder.^[14]
  • Sarabande: Dance for Miriam Cooper, for microtonal harpsichord (1986)^[15]
  • Sonata No. 1 for Solo Recorder ("The Bullfinch").^[16]

W

• Ivan Wyschnegradsky
  • Ainsi Parlait Zarathoustra, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp, Op. 17 (1929–1930, revised 1936)
  • 2 Chants sur Nietzsche, for baritone & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 9 (1923)
  • Chant douloureux et étude, for violin and piano, Op. 6 (1918)
  • Composition, for string quartet, Op. 43 (1960)
  • Cosmos, for 4 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 28 (1939–1940)
  • Dialogue, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, eight hands, W.o.O. (1959)
  • Dithyrambe, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, Op. 12 (1923–1924)
  • Études sur les mouvements rotatoires, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, eight hands, Op. 45a.; for chamber orchestra, Op. 45c (1961)
  • Études sur les densités et les volumes, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, Op. 39b (1956)
  • Fragment symphonique No. 1, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp, Op. 23a; for orchestra, Op. 23c (1934, orch. vers. 1967)
  • Fragment symphonique No. 2, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp, timpani & percussions, Op. 24 (1937)
  • Fragment symphonique No. 3, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp & ad. lib. percussions, Op. 31 (1946)
  • Prélude et Fugue, Op. 21, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart (1932)
  • Préludes dans tous les tons de l'échelle chromatique diatonisée à 13 sons, Op. 22, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart (1934, revised 1960)
  • String Quartet No. 1, Op. 13 (1923–1924)
  • String Quartet No. 2, Op. 18 (1930–1931)
  • String Trio, Op. 53 (1979, unfinished, completed by Claude Ballif)
  • Variations sans thème et conclusion (five), for orchestra, Op. 33 (1951–52)

Y

• Eugène Ysaÿe
  • Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27 (1924), Nos. 3 and 5

See also

• List of compositions in just intonation

Notes

References

Further reading

• Gann, Kyle. 6 July 1999. "Sound Bytes of Truth", The Village Voice.

Notes and References

1. Bach, "Concert Variations ", JanBach.com.
2. , "Uses quarter tones."
3. Web site: Jacob Collier - in the Bleak Midwinter (Transcription) . . 2022-08-18 . 2022-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220818111650/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-nRv0uQvH0 . live .
4. , "The nine harps are divided into three groups of three and tuned in sixth-tones, and the flute plays in quarter-steps"
5. , "At some point, he outfitted his entire trumpet section with four-valved trumpets whose additional valve allowed them to play quarter-tones"
6. "Georg Friedrich Haas: 3 Hommages ", UniversalEdition.com.
7. Web site: The Legendary Microtonal Trio by Jeronimas Kačinskas – a challenge for performers. Music Information Centre Lithuania. June 3, 2021. June 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603203840/https://www.mic.lt/en/news/2018/01/18/legendary-microtonal-trio-by-jeronimas-kacinskas/. live.
8. The New Yorker. 74. 1–10. 23. Classical Music.
9. . However, states that Ramifications is Ligeti's "only work in quarter tones".
10. . However, states that Ramifications is Ligeti's "only work in quarter tones".

11. ; ; ; ; .

12. , "Konträr-Klangräume: 6 Pauken, deren Stimmung ganztönig, und zur Klavierstimmung vierteltönig verschoben [Contrasting sound spaces: 6 timpani, the whole tone of which is tuned and quarter-tone shifted to the piano tuning]".
13. Book: Everett . Walter . Walter Everett (musicologist) . The Foundations of Rock: From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" . 2009 . Oxford University Press, USA . 978-0-19-531023-8 . 32 . en . 2023-03-21 . 2023-02-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230222032245/https://books.google.com/books?id=PH88DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA32 . live .
14. , "An arrow head pointing down over a note lowers it approximately a quarter step".
    , "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''''."
15. , "'V' over a tone lowers it a quartertone … 'V' below a group of tones lowers that group a quartertone".
16. .
    , "An arrow head pointing down over a note lowers it approximately a quarter step".