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Le Béguinage


Le Béguinage, "The Little Piano Sonata" (1948-49), is one of Langgaard's strangest compositions, with an 'autobiographical' content that is very dificult to interpret. Even the title itself is ambiguous: le béguinage means 'holiness' in French, but in a mocking, derogatory sense. This is music that is constantly commenting on and mocking itself - indeed, one can almost speak of self-destructive traits in this work, which is built up of fragments like a collage. Langgaard also built a theatrical element into the composition, which is meant to give the impression that the pianist is playing the piano out of tune and almost to destruction.
Listen to the beginning of the 2nd Movement, which gives an impression of the disconnected and restless nature of the music.


Beginning of the manuscript of the 2nd Movement of "Le Béguinage". Reproduced by permission of Engstrøm & Sødring A/S.


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