Ligeti Etudes

[penguin_pianist]

I really want to play the Ligeti Etudes, as they sound BEAUTIFUL. I cannot help but listen to the Devil's Staircase over and over.

My question is, because I have only played piano for 18 months, is how should I work up to the Ligeti Etudes? At what point would studying them be advisable?

Or should I not do any prepatory work and just grab a copy of the score and get started?

[dnephi]

Ligeti Etudes are incredibly difficult.  They should not be attempted except with a teacher and most likely only by professionals. 

[andyd]

I'm contemplating his 13th too,  looking at the dots I'd say it's something of a challenge.  But then I've only been playing for 40 years.
Check it out on the link above (my apologies,  the link was to an illegal site and has been deleted). 
Also there are two versions of it on youtube.

Anyone actually play it and comment?

Andy

[desordre]

Ligeti Etudes are incredibly difficult. They should not be attempted except with a teacher and most likely only by professionals.

Dnephi said it all. I must add that only after mastering some Chopin, Liszt and Scriabin studies one should attempt to play Ligeti's.
 Best!

[penguin_pianist]

Dnephi said it all. I must add that only after mastering some Chopin, Liszt and Scriabin studies one should attempt to play Ligeti's.
 Best!

You make it sound like some dangerous explosive that will ruin my playing if I attempt to play it

It can't be _that_ hard, can it? Afterall, there are only so many notes one can fit on a staff...

[desordre]

 Dear Penguin:

You make it sound like some dangerous explosive that will ruin my playing if I attempt to play it
It can't be _that_ hard, can it? Afterall, there are only so many notes one can fit on a staff...

Answering to your second question first: yes, they are that hard. Perhaps even more.

 About the ruin of your playing, I don't mean anything so dramatic  and hope that not happens. Anyway, despite minor and subtle classifications of difficulty, in any instrument repertoire there are orders, i.e., things that usually come before or after others.
 I will never say that someone must not play a piece, but skipping steps is dangerous. First, because 95% of the time you will not achieve what you want. Second, and foremost in my opinion, your muscles maybe are not ready to do the work.

 When I wrote that you should consider of play Chopin, Liszt and Scriabin first is because I think that those are the steps to Ligeti. By no means I'm saying that all Liszt is easier than all Ligeti, but in general, there are things by the former easier to manage. Easy is probably not the better term to define, but... 
 In your particular case, what is the repertory that you already finished? I wonder how someone who play the piano for only one and a half year should master some Ligeti.  It would be quite an accomplishment, but I rather think it would not be possible. Of course, it's up to you. But I insist that a lot of preparatory work (not to say a whole repertory) shall be done before.
 Best wishes!