List of quarter tone pieces

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"
 * Clarence Barlow
 * Çoǧluotobüsişletmesi for four pianos. "in which four of the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale are tuned a quarter tone flat"
 * ...until' version 7 for guitar (1980).
 * Hans Barth
 * 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 Beckwith
 * Blurred Lines for violin and harpsichord (1997)
 * Jack Behrens
 * Quarter-Tone Quartet, Op. 20.
 * Alban Berg
 * Chamber Concerto, for violin, piano, and 13 winds.
 * Luciano Berio
 * E 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 Boulez
 * Polyphonie X (1951).
 * Le Visage nuptial (1946).

C

 * Jacob Collier
 * In the Bleak Midwinter for 10 Vocalists (2016)
 * Julián Carrillo
 * Capricho 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)
 * Aaron Copland
 * Vitebsk (1928).
 * John Corigliano
 * Chiaroscuro for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart (1997)
 * Mildred Couper
 * Xanadu 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

 * John Diercks
 * Reminiscences, 1971 for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone lower.

E

 * John Eaton
 * Sonority Movement, for flute and nine harps.
 * Danny Elfman
 * Soundtrack score for A Simple Plan features "very specific quarter tone detunings coming off the Emulator".
 * Don Ellis
 * Electric Bath
 * George Enescu
 * Œdipe (opera)
 * Third Violin Sonata ("In Popular Romanian Style")

F

 * Bjørn Fongaard
 * Galaxe [Galaxy] (for three quarter-tone guitars), Opus 46.
 * John Foulds
 * Cello Sonata (1905, rev. 1927), passages in the second movement

G

 * Sofia Gubaidulina
 * Quaternion 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 Haapamäki
 * Velinikka, 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 Haas
 * 3 Hommages, for piano player on two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart
 * "Hommage à Steve Reich" (1982)
 * "Hommage à György Ligeti" (1984)
 * "Hommage à Josef Matthias Hauer" (1982)
 * Alois Hába
 * Children'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 Halévy
 * Prométhée enchaîné (1849)
 * Jonathan Harvey
 * Valley of Aosta for chamber ensemble of 13 players and electronics (1988)
 * Lejaren Hiller
 * String Quartet No. 5 (1962).
 * Alan Hovhaness
 * O 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 Kurtág
 * Lebenslauf, Op. 32 (1992)

L

 * Michael A. Levine
 * Divination 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 Ligeti
 * Clocks and Clouds for 12-voiced women's choir and orchestra.
 * Quartet No. 2 for strings.
 * Ramifications for 12 solo strings (1968–69), divided into two groups tuned a quarter-tone apart.
 * Arthur Lourié
 * Prelude for piano "with higher chromatism", Op.12 No.2 (1912).
 * Alain Louvier
 * Anneaux de Lumière (1983) for two pianos, one tuned a quarter-tone apart (1 player)

M

 * Drake Mabry
 * 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 apart
 * The Night Visitor
 * Steve Mackey
 * Indigenous Instruments
 * On All Fours
 * Andrew March
 * Aeolian 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 Mažulis
 * Quartertone Canon for two piano tuned a quarter-tone apart (2010)
 * Sans Pause for string quartet (2001)
 * Olivier Messiaen
 * Deux monodies en quarts de ton (1938).

N

 * Per Nørgård
 * String Quartet No. 5 'Inscape' (1969)

O

 * Frank J. Oteri
 * Circles 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 Penderecki
 * Threnody 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 Stein
 * Zwei Konzertstücke, Op. 26, 1906.
 * Karlheinz Stockhausen
 * Pietà, for soprano, quarter-tone flugelhorn, and electronic music, from the opera Dienstag aus Licht
 * Schlagquartett, for piano and 3 x 2 timpani (1952)
 * Billy Strange
 * These Boots Are Made for Walkin', 1966 popular song, sung by Nancy Sinatra, with a prominent quarter tone double bass riff.

T

 * Tōru Takemitsu
 * Bryce (1976).
 * James Tenney
 * Bridge for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart (1984)
 * Jukka Tiensuu
 * Kymmari for Decacorde (2016)
 * Anomal Dances Concerto for quarter-tone accordion and orchestra (2015)
 * Kuuhiomo a proludi in quarter tones for any ensemble of melody instruments (2015)
 * Arsenic and Old Lace for micro-tonally tuned harpsichord, string quartet (1990)
 * Narcissus for oboe and tape (1979)
 * Tui St. George Tucker
 * Amoroso for solo clarinet
 * Indian Summer for 2 baritones with 2 flutes, clarinet, bassoon, trombone, viola, and percussion
 * Little Pieces for quarter-tone piano
 * My Melancholy Baby Fantasy for one player performing on two pianos at a right angle tuned a quarter-tone apart
 * Quartertone Carol for recorder trio
 * Quartertone Recorder Duets
 * Quartertone Lullubies 1–3 for recorder trio
 * Romanza for solo recorder.
 * Sarabande: Dance for Miriam Cooper, for microtonal harpsichord (1986)
 * Sonata No. 1 for Solo Recorder ("The Bullfinch").

W

 * Ivan Wyschnegradsky
 * Ainsi Parlait Zarathoustra, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp, Op. 17 (1929–1930, revised 1936)
 * 2 Chants sur Nietzsche, for baritone & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 9 (1923)
 * Chant douloureux et étude, for violin and piano, Op. 6 (1918)
 * Composition, for string quartet, Op. 43 (1960)
 * Cosmos, for 4 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 28 (1939–1940)
 * Dialogue, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, eight hands, W.o.O. (1959)
 * Dithyrambe, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, Op. 12 (1923–1924)
 * Études sur les mouvements rotatoires, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, eight hands, Op. 45a.; for chamber orchestra, Op. 45c (1961)
 * Études sur les densités et les volumes, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart, Op. 39b (1956)
 * Fragment symphonique No. 1, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp, Op. 23a; for orchestra, Op. 23c (1934, orch. vers. 1967)
 * Fragment symphonique No. 2, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp, timpani & percussions, Op. 24 (1937)
 * Fragment symphonique No. 3, for four pianos two of which are tuned a quarter-tone sharp & ad. lib. percussions, Op. 31 (1946)
 * Prélude et Fugue, Op. 21, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart (1932)
 * Préludes dans tous les tons de l'échelle chromatique diatonisée à 13 sons, Op. 22, for two pianos tuned a quarter-tone apart (1934, revised 1960)
 * String Quartet No. 1, Op. 13 (1923–1924)
 * String Quartet No. 2, Op. 18 (1930–1931)
 * String Trio, Op. 53 (1979, unfinished, completed by Claude Ballif)
 * Variations sans thème et conclusion (five), for orchestra, Op. 33 (1951–52)

Y

 * Eugène Ysaÿe
 * Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27 (1924), Nos. 3 and 5