Literally, ‘The Devil’s Staircase’, this is one of a number of solo piano etudes by the Hungarian composer György Ligeti, and perhaps the best known. Listen to how the piece is built from layers: at first, small patterns of ascending quavers, getting ever more manic; later on, chords build up underneath in slow motion.
The way the piece is constructed, one might be forgiven for thinking the ascent was never ending! Another great example of minimal material being taken to it’s limits.
Young Composers Project 