The Blocked and In Between

Composer
Xiaoyong Chen
Date of composition
2023
Duration
158 Seconds
Instrumentation
String quartet

Part of the Nouvelles Études, 14 new pieces inspired by György Ligeti's Études for piano, as part of the 2023 celebrations for the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Generously supported by Britten Pears Arts, BBC Radio 3, Bourgie Hall, the Vaughan Williams Foundation, and private donations.

First performed in 2023 at the Aldeburgh Festival.

Music transcends its appearance in order to reflect on the content of thinking and being. This quartet movement is comparable to my experience - from Peking Opera to modern. It contains many small facets of over 50 years... "Blocked" reflects the natural and the distorted life. Suddenly everything dissolves…

Events for this work

Wednesday
3
June 2026
South China Normal University

China 2026: Concert

Xiaoyong Chen
The Blocked and In Between (2023)
Christian Mason
S'iscravamentu, from Sardinian Songbook (2016)
Christian Mason
Muttos, from Sardinian Songbook (2016)
Christian Mason
Ezir Kara, from Tuvan Songbook (2016)

Ligeti Quartet present a programme combining works from their repertoire with those of composers from the South China Normal University:

Wei Cong String Quartet No. 1 (2007)
Pang Wenlan String Quartet No. 1 "Veins of Withered Wood" (2026)
Wang Siqi Wrath Lullaby for String Quartet (2026)
Xu Xinhua Fluctuations in Mood for String Quartet (2023) 

Sunday
5
November 2023
Bourgie Hall, Montreal
Photo of Salle Bourgie (Bourgie Hall)

Ligeti Festival - Quartets and Etudes

Lukas Ligeti
Entasis (2023)
Nicole Lizée
Entreflaques (2023)
Xiaoyong Chen
The Blocked and In Between (2023)
Emily Hazrati
György's Apprentice (2023)
Mandhira de Saram
Chers Amis (2023)
Rolf Hind
L'Esprit de l'Escalier (d'après no. 13) (2023)
Sidney Corbett
Suspended Disbelief (2023)
Ana Sokolović
Ungherese (Ghost 3) (2023)
György Ligeti
String Quartet No. 1, Métamorphoses nocturnes (1952-54)
György Ligeti
String Quartet No. 2 (1968)
Delve into the world of György Ligeti’s chamber music, from his youthful forays into composition inspired by Hungarian folklore to the radical experimentations of his later years. / Ces musiciens et musiciennes d'exception nous entraînent au cœur de l’univers de György Ligeti, de ses premiers essais de jeunesse inspirés du folklore hongrois aux expérimentations radicales de sa maturité.
More info & tickets
Friday
23
June 2023
Snape Maltings Concert Hall
Aldeburgh Festival 2023

Ligeti Day: Nouvelles Etudes

Lukas Ligeti
Entasis (2023)
Rolf Hind
L'Esprit de l'Escalier (d'après no. 13) (2023)
Mandhira de Saram
Chers Amis (2023)
Sidney Corbett
Suspended Disbelief (2023)
Ana Sokolović
Ungherese (Ghost 3) (2023)
Nicole Lizée
Entreflaques (2023)
Cassie Kinoshi
Désordre: Sampled (2023)
Manfred Stahnke
String Quartet No. 9: Fragment (2023)
Emily Hazrati
György's Apprentice (2023)
Xiaoyong Chen
The Blocked and In Between (2023)
Elliot Galvin
Hungarian Metal (2023)
Benoît Delbecq
Ushant (2023)
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
Fanfares for Ligeti (2023)
Justė Janulytė
Infinite Column (2023)
Silvia Fômina
Vertigo: The Unsupportable Pleasure (2023)
The world premieres of Entasis by Lukas Ligeti, and Nouvelles Etudes, a collection of works inspired by Ligeti's Etudes by 14 different composers, all in celebration of the 100th anniversary of György Ligeti's birth.
More info & tickets