Mátraszentimrei dalok

They are strongly influenced by fellow composer Béla Bartók, who also used Hungarian folk songs as his basis for some of his compositions.

[1] As Ligeti did with most of his early vocal compositions, this collection of pieces was composed in Budapest in 1955, but it was not premiered until June 9, 1984.

The premiere took place in Saarbrücken, with Robert Pappert [de] conducting the Kammerchor Hausen.

[3] The whole collection takes approximately 4 minutes to perform and consists of four folk songs.

[4][5] Ligeti stated in the original score that the last movement can be transposed one tone higher for women's choirs.