🇷🇴Ligeti György Sándor ： Etudes Book III No.17 A bout de souffle

No. 17, the final etude in Book III, is driven throughout by a breathless sense of speed and tension, as its title suggests. Short gestures appear in rapid succession, shifting in register and weight, while sharp accents and sudden dynamic changes shape the urgent flow. A central point of interest is the contrast between the character of each passage and the larger forward momentum of the music; the rapid notes should not sound merely mechanical. In performance, begin by dividing the complex movements into small units and establishing precise rhythm with a light touch. Avoid forcing the leaps or accented notes, and instead feel the phrases as brief breaths while maintaining the taut momentum to the very end.