The Stairs of MC Escher, often referred to as the Penrose stairs, are a fascinating optical illusion. They depict a staircase that appears to endlessly ascend or descend, defying the laws of gravity. This illusion is created by a two-dimensional depiction of a staircase with four 90-degree turns. To capture the essence of the staircases, I employed ascending and descending scales of seven pitches, drawing inspiration from the diatonic nature of the harp. Simultaneously, I aimed to represent the overall structure of the piece by strategically placing these custom-designed scales. The scales are intentionally asymmetrical and reversible, adding a unique dimension to the composition.
This work was written especially for the Young Artist category of the 2nd Ceren Nepicoglu Istanbul International Harp Festival Turkey, 14–19 January 2025.