A selection of compositions using quarter tones:
A Thomas Adès Asyla calls for an upright piano tuned a quarter-tone flat.
B Jan Bach Concert Variations for solo euphonium; "each variation is based on different performance techniques of the instrument, including quarter-tones"Bach, "Concert Variations ", JanBach.com. János Bali Aiolos ajándéka (Gift of Aiolos) for violin, viola da gamba (tuned 1/4 tone lower), harpsichord (upper manual tuned 1/4 tone lower) Clarence Barlow Çoǧluotobüsişletmesi for four pianos., "Uses quarter tones." "in which four of the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale are tuned a quarter tone flat" ...until''' version 7 for guitar (1980).
Concerto for Quarter Tone Piano and Quarter Tone Strings (1930) Béla Bartók String Quartet No. 6; the third movement Burletta contains quarter-tone tuning used for parodistic effect. Quarter tones are also used in Bartók's ballet The Miraculous Mandarin.; Sonata for Solo Violin; the fourth movement Presto contains quarter-tones, but they are not "structural features."; This movement also calls for third-tones. Violin Concerto No. 2; the cadenza in the first movement requires the use of quarter-tones, but only as an effect.; John BeckwithBlurred Lines for violin and harpsichord (1997); Jack BehrensQuarter-Tone Quartet, Op. 20. Alban Berg Chamber Concerto, for violin, piano, and 13 winds. Luciano BerioE vó (1972). Easley Blackwood Jr.Twelve Microtonal Etudes for Electronic Music Media: "24 Notes: Moderato" (1980). Ernest Bloch Piano Quintet No. 1 (1923); the first movement features use of quarter-tones in the string parts.; Pierre BoulezPolyphonie X (1951).Le Visage nuptial (1946).
C Julián CarrilloCapricho for piano in quarter-tones (1959)Capricho for solo viola in quarter-tones (1926)Casi-sonatas 1–6 for solo violin, viola or cello in quarter-tones (c.1960s) Concertino in quarter-, eighth- and sixteenth-tones for violin, cello and harp with orchestra (1926) Concerto for 1/4-tone and 1/8-tone cello and orchestra (1958) Concerto No. 1 for quarter-tone violin and orchestra (1963) Concerto No. 2 for quarter-tone violin and orchestra (1964)Mass for Pope John XXIII for male chorus in quarter-tones (1920s)Preludio a Colón for vocalizing soprano, octavina (modified bass guitar, in 8th tones), flute, 16th-tone harp, violin, and guitar (1922)Serenata for cello in quarter-tones with English horn, harp, and string quartet (1927)70 estudios for solo violin in quarter-tones (c. 1927?) {also for solo viola, cello, or double-bass} Sonata for solo guitar in quarter-tones (c.1924) Sonata (Amanecer en Berlin 13) for solo harp in quarter-tones (1931)Sonata casi fantasia for violin, violoncello and guitar in quarter-, eighth- and sixteenth-tones (1925) String Quartet in quarter-tones (c.1924) {There are also 7 others with some using smaller intervals.} Suite for solo guitar in quarter-tones (1960)3 estudios en forma de sonatina for solo violin in quarter-tones (1927) Symphony No. 1 (Colombia) for orchestra in quarter-tones (c.1924) Symphony No. 2 (Colombia) for orchestra in quarter-tones (1926) Dragutin Čolić Concertino for quarter-tone piano and string sextet (1932) String Quartet No. 1 (1932) Jacob CollierIn the Bleak Midwinter for 10 Vocalists (2016) Aaron CoplandVitebsk (1928). John CoriglianoChiaroscuro for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (1997); Mildred CouperXanadu for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (ca. 1930)Dirge for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart, published in New Music quarterly (January 1937)Rumba for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (ca. 1937)
D Jean-Jacques Débillemont Vercingétorix, cantata (1863, lost) John DiercksReminiscences, 1971 for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone lower.
E John EatonSonority Movement, for flute and nine harps., "The nine harps are divided into three groups of three and tuned in sixth-tones, and the flute plays in quarter-steps" Danny Elfman Soundtrack score for A Simple Plan features "very specific quarter tone detunings coming off the Emulator". Don EllisElectric Bath, "At some point, he outfitted his entire trumpet section with four-valved trumpets whose additional valve allowed them to play quarter-tones" George EnescuŒdipe (opera) Third Violin Sonata ("In Popular Romanian Style")
F Bjørn FongaardGalaxe [Galaxy] (for three quarter-tone guitars), Opus 46. John Foulds Cello Sonata (1905, rev. 1927), passages in the second movement
G Sofia GubaidulinaQuaternion for cello quartet, two of the cellos are tuned down a quarter tone; Music for Flute, Strings, and Percussion, the strings are divided into two sections, one of which is tuned a quarter-tone lower than the other.
H Sampo HaapamäkiVelinikka, concerto for quarter-tone accordion (2008)Conception, double concerto for quarter-tone guitar, quarter-tone accordion and orchestra (2012) Quarter-Tone Piano Concerto (2017) Georg Friedrich Haas3 Hommages, for piano player on two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart"Georg Friedrich Haas: 3 Hommages ", UniversalEdition.com. "Hommage à Steve Reich" (1982) "Hommage à György Ligeti" (1984) "Hommage à Josef Matthias Hauer" (1982) Alois HábaChildren's Play for unaccompanied youth chorus, Op.43 (1932)Chor-Suite for unaccompanied chorus, Op. 13 (1922)5 Choruses for unaccompanied youth chorus, Op. 42 (1932)5 Mixed Choruses, Op. 44 (1932)Detské nálady (Children's Moods), 8-song cycle for mid-ranged voice and quartertone guitar, Op.51 (1943) Fantasy No. 1 for quartertone piano, Op. 17 (1923) Fantasy No. 2 for quartertone piano, Op. 19 (1924) Fantasy No. 3 for quartertone piano, Op. 20 (1924) Fantasy No. 4 for quartertone piano, Op. 25 (1925) Fantasy No. 5 for quartertone piano, Op. 26 (1925) Fantasy No. 6 for quartertone piano, Op. 27 (1926) Fantasy No. 7 for quartertone piano, Op. 28 (1926) Fantasy No. 8 for quartertone piano, Op. 29 (1926) Fantasy No. 9 for quartertone piano, Op. 30 (1926) Fantasy No. 10 for quartertone piano, Op. 31 (1926) Fantasy No. 11 for quartertone piano, Op. 89 (1959) Fantasy for unaccompanied violin, Op. 9a (1921) Fantasy for unaccompanied violoncello, Op. 18 (1924) Fantasy for violin and quartertone piano, Op. 21 (1925) Fantasy for viola and quartertone piano, Op. 32 (1926) Fantasy for violoncello and quartertone piano, Op. 33 (1927)Já (I) for unaccompanied men's chorus, Op. 36 (1928)Matka (The Mother), quartertone opera in 10 scenes, Op. 35 (1927–29)Poesie zivota (Poetry of Life), 12-song cycle for soprano and quartertone guitar, Op. 53 (1943)Pracující den (The working day) for unaccompanied male voices, Op. 45 (1932) Solo for violin Op. 93 (1961–62) Sonata for quartertone piano, Op. 62 (1946–47) String Quartet No. 2 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 7 (1920) String Quartet 3 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 12 (1922) String Quartet 4 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 14 (1922) String Quartet 6 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 70 (1950) String Quartet No. 12 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 90 (1959–60) String Quartet 14 ("In quarter-tone system"), Op. 94 (1963) Suite No. 1 for quartertone piano, Op. 10 (1922, revised in 1932 as Op. 11a) Suite No. 2 for quartertone piano, Op. 11 (1922, revised in 1932 as Op. 11b) Suite No. 3 for quartertone piano, Op. 16 (1923) Suite No. 4 for quartertone piano, Op. 22 (1924) Suite No. 5 for quartertone piano, Op. 23 (1925) Suite No. 6 for quartertone piano, Op. 88 (1957–59) Suite for clarinet and quartertone piano, Op. 24 (1925) 1st Suite for quartertone guitar, Op. 54 (1943) 2nd Suite for quartertone guitar, Op. 63 (1947) Suite for clarinet (unaccompanied), Op. 55 (1943) Suite for quartertone trumpet and trombone, Op. 56 (1944) Suite in quartertones for 4 trombones, Op. 72 (1950) Fromental HalévyProméthée enchaîné (1849) Jonathan HarveyValley of Aosta for chamber ensemble of 13 players and electronics (1988) Lejaren Hiller String Quartet No. 5 (1962). Alan HovhanessO Lord, Bless Thy Mountains, Op. 276, for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (1974);
I Charles Ives Three Quarter-Tone Pieces, for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone sharp, S. 128 (K. 3C3) (1923–24); Symphony No. 4 (1910–1924)
K Jeronimas Kačinskas String Quartet No. 2 (1931) (lost? withdrawn?) Trio for trumpet, viola, and harmonium (1933) Gideon Klein Duo for violin and viola in the Quartertone System (1940) György KurtágLebenslauf, Op. 32 (1992)
L Dongryul LeeGoethe’s Garden (2016-2017) for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart Michael A. LevineDivination by Mirrors for Saw and Strings. Strings are divided into two groups of 13 tuned 1/4 step apart. Each group plays only in its own pitch "universe". The featured bowed saw freely moves from standard tuning to pitches a 1/4 step away. Premiered at Merkin Concert Hall, New York City, 1998 by the New York Virtuosi and Dale Stuckenbruck saw soloist. György LigetiClocks and Clouds for 12-voiced women's choir and orchestra.. However, states that Ramifications is Ligeti's "only work in quarter tones". Quartet No. 2 for strings.. However, states that Ramifications is Ligeti's "only work in quarter tones".Ramifications for 12 solo strings (1968–69), divided into two groups tuned a quarter-tone apart.; ; ; ; ; . Arthur LouriéPrelude for piano "with higher chromatism", Op.12 No.2 (1912). Alain LouvierAnneaux de Lumière (1983) for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone apart (1 player)
M Street Cries (11.10.83) for solo B♭ clarinet features extensive use of quarter tones in all three movements. Henry Mancini Soundtrack score for Wait Until Dark (1967) features extensive use of quarter-tones including two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apartThe Night Visitor Steve MackeyIndigenous InstrumentsOn All Fours Andrew MarchAeolian Rustling (2001) for alto flute (Boehm system) and harp, with Kingma System alto flute ossia.XXIX—in Perpetuum (2001) for solo Kingma System quarter-tone alto flute.Water Lilies (2001) for solo alto flute and harp, with Kingma System quarter-tone alto flute ossia.Memoriam (2002) for Kingma System quarter-tone alto flute, vibraphone, marimba, harp and strings. Rytis MažulisQuartertone Canon for two piano tuned a quarter-tone apart (2010)Sans Pause for string quartet (2001) Olivier MessiaenDeux monodies en quarts de ton (1938).
N Per Nørgård String Quartet No. 5 'Inscape' (1969)
O Frank J. Otericircles mostly in wood, a quarter-tone wind quintet in five movements (2002)Fair and Balanced?, a quarter-tone saxophone quartet in four short movements (2004)
P Krzysztof PendereckiThrenody to the Victims of Hiroshima, for string orchestra, frequently makes use of quarter tones.
R Karel Reiner Fantasy for quarter-tone piano (1935-36) Five songs for voice with violin accompaniment in quarter-tones to texts by Karel Hynek Mácha (1936, performed at the 1938 ISCM Festival in Paris) 3 Duos for 2 quarter-tone clarinets (1972) Suite for quarter-tone piano (1935-36) Milan Ristić Duo for violin and violoncello, Op. 11 (1938) Septet for clarinet, 2 trombones, string trio, and doublebass, Op. 9 (1938) Suite for unaccompanied violin, Op. 6 (1938) Suite for ten strings, Op. 10 (1938) Suite for four trombones, Op. 8 (1938, scheduled for performance during the 1939 ISCM Festival in Warsaw but the performance could not take place)
S Ezra Sims String Quartet No. 3 (1962) Richard Heinrich SteinZwei Konzertstücke, Op. 26, 1906. Karlheinz StockhausenPietà, for soprano, quarter-tone flugelhorn, and electronic music, from the opera Dienstag aus LichtSchlagquartett, for piano and 3 x 2 timpani (1952), "Konträr-Klangräume: 6 Pauken, deren Stimmung ganztönig, und zur Klavierstimmung vierteltönig verschoben [Contrasting sound spaces: 6 timpani, the whole tone of which is tuned and quarter-tone shifted to the piano tuning]". Billy StrangeThese Boots Are Made for Walkin', 1966 popular song, sung by Nancy Sinatra, with a prominent quarter tone double bass riff.
T Tōru TakemitsuBryce (1976). James TenneyBridge for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart (1984)