Orchestration
Ligeti calls for an immense orchestra with a huge assortment of percussion in his opera:
- 3 Flutes (2nd & 3rd doubling Piccolos)
- 3 Oboes (2nd doubling Oboe d'amore, 3rd doubling Cor anglais)
- 3 Clarinets in B♭ (2nd doubling Piccolo clarinet in E♭ & Alto saxophone, 3rd doubling Bass Clarinet in B♭)
- 3 Bassoons (3rd doubling Contrabassoon)
- 4 Horns in F
- 4 Trumpets in C (1st & 2nd doubling Piccolo trumpets in D)
- Bass trumpet in C
- 3 Trombones (Tenor, Tenor-Bass & Contrabass)
- Contrabass Tuba
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- Timpani
- Percussion (4 players)
- 3 Chromatic Harmonicas (played by either Horn-players or Drummers)
- Celesta (doubling Harpsichord)
- Grand Piano (doubling Electronic piano)
- Electronic organ (Manuals only, doubling Regal)
- Mandolin
- Harp
- Strings (3, 0, 2, 6, 4)
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The vast percussion section uses a large variety of domestic items, as well as standard orchestral instruments
- Xylophone
- Vibraphone
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- 12 Car-horns at different pitches
- 4 Musical boxes
- 6 Electric doorbells
- 2 Tambourines
- Military drum
- 2 Snare drums
- 3 Bongo drums
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- Conga
- Tenor drum
- Parade drum
- 4 Tom-toms
- 2 Bass drums
- 2 Triangles
- 3 Crotales
- 3 Suspended Cymbals
- 1 pair of Antique Cymbals
- 2 pairs of Crashed Cymbals
- Gong
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- 2 Tam-tams
- Tubular bells
- 2 Japanese Temple-Bells
- Maracas
- 2 Guiros
- 2 Whips
- 1 pair of Claves
- 1 pair of Castanets
- Ratchet
- 3 Wood blocks
- Log-drum
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- 5 Temple blocks
- Large sledgehammer
- Wooden slats
- Slide whistle
- Whistle
- Cuckoo whistle
- Signal whistle
- Siren whistle
- Steamboat whistle
- 2 Sirens
- 2 Flexatones
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- Duck-quacker
- Hum pots
- Large Alarm clock
- Large pyramidal Metronome
- Paper (either Silk or Newsprint)
- 1 pair of Sandpaper blocks
- Wind machine
- Paper bag
- Tray full of Crockery
- Sauce pan
- Pistol
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