White on Black

Work Overview

  • For solo piano

  • Co-commissioned by Metropolis Ensemble and pianist Han Chen, celebrating the centenary birthday of Hungarian-Austrian composer György Ligeti (1923-2006).

  • Premiere: September 24, 2023 at National Sawdust

  • 3 minutes

Program Note

White on Black quotes from Ligeti’s White on White and is structured as a conflict between the primarily white notes of the original Ligeti chorale and the primarily black notes that gradually take hold of the piece. Long-held notes of the chorale from White on White begin the short 3-minute piece, but are increasingly interrupted by black notes — starting off as birdcalls, gradually becoming a storm, and culminating in a conflict between black and white notes. The resolution of this conflict is for the listener to decide.  

Purchase This Work

Related Media

Upcoming Performances of this Work

Past Performances of this Work

News About this Work

Piano, Solo WorksAshley KillamWhite on Black, 2023