Ligeti Etude No. 13 “L'escalier du diable”
Claire C.
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Ligeti's Etude No. 13, "L’escalier du diable," was inspired by M.C. Escher's seemingly "impossible" mathematically derived artwork, which parallels the notion of creating a relentless, impossible staircase that Ligeti wanted to uncover. Ligeti's masterpiece of this etude transcends the boundaries of what the piano is capable of, unveiling a sound that is previously unimaginable. By learning this work, my goal was to showcase the mathematical precision of the ascending accents, yet fueling the piece with relentlessness that provides the listener with a vision of an unending, "Devil's" staircase. Drawing on Ligeti's abnormal writing (for example, his request for the pianist to play the piano's highest note repeatedly), I wanted to convey an emotion that fuels the intensity Ligeti requested, while simultaneously ensuring listeners notice the disparities in character that express the composition's demonic essence.
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Creativity means utilizing any past knowledge or inspiration you have gathered and integrating it with your own imagination of an artwork. Having your own interpretation to create an artwork that reflects originality, no matter the inspiration, showcases creativity.
