iannis xenakis. search & destroy

otis is right about musique concrete. henry's _fragments pour artaud_ does actually have some really nice parts but also has a lot of goofy spoken-word. don't leave out varese's "deserts" which was #5 on my 40-records list.

The first disc features a lot of fierce Ensemble InterContemporain pieces - "Phlegra", "Keren" (trombone, mostly) and so on. The second disc feature the harpsichord/clavecin works Sundar mentioned - "Komboi" being the best, leavened as it is with some nice percussion (dig those ceramic pots).

I have yet to hear any Xenakis which could be described as electro-acoustic; I understand "Persepolis" is the business?

Is it worth starting a Giacinto Scelsi thread?

Mark S - I'm sure you're right about the changing definition of e-a, it's just that, aside from wellying the harpsichord through some kind of internal amplification, I've not heard Xenakis' efforts in the broad domain of electronic manipulation. Or e m as I'd now like to call it.

All that business dovetails with what might more properly be called musique concrete (m c), of the sort you find on labels like Metamkine thesedays. Little discs. Big sounds. Good.

but it's a nice time to collect Xenakis because Persepolis and legend d'er have been released too. The latter is basically 8 (channels?) of music with each bit taking centre stage for a while (the whole thing is nearly 50 minutes). Persepolis: heard it once on headphones and it was impossible to make any sense of it. My brain was fried and i couldn't register it.

I went to canada for three months and now am back so I'll give this a listen (on speakers this time) and report later.

my girlfriend loves persepolis

I'm almost thinking that it now rivals 'Legende d'Eer'. Can't even believe I'm saying that, but this mix finally seems to blend the sounds into a weightless, majestic mass that hangs in the air like doom. It no longer sounds like an undifferentiated multitracked soundscape, it sounds like a single living unity. I can hardly wait until midnight tonight to play it again.

Scott
nyc

(I know, this would be a more useful thing to mention if the concert were tomorrow night...)

scott- we have threads on many of these composers, use the search function at the bottom of the page.

since this thread was started I went to a xenakis concert where acoustic pieces from the 70s and 80s were played (they showed a couple of clips from a BBC doc on the fella): throughout I just kept thinking to as to why he didn't combine acoustics with electronic tapes. Also listening to a couple of Luigi Nono pieces really made me think abt this a bit more, maybe an opportunity missed there. The pieces themselves were too dry, nothing connected.

'kraanerg' is terrific.

also, the liner noted on cage's 'empty words (part III)' are the worst. really takes the prize as far as these things go.

Scott

maybe no 'concerts' but I envy you any job within walking distance of the dream house

http://melafoundation.org/s&lpress.htm

Scott

notice TriBeCa is oh-so-trendy but there's no good concerts
maybe no 'concerts' but I envy you any job within walking distance of the dream house

http://melafoundation.org/s&lpress.htm

-- (milto...), March 13th, 2004.

ok just bought my third version of 'persepolis', contained on the new two disc Xenakis set on editions RZ. just wanted to say: this is the definitive mix. I'm very familiar with the Fractal & Asphodel editions, have even heard seperated mixes from the 8 channel multitrack, and this RZ mix is finally the one that nails it. It's like I'd never heard it before.
I'm almost thinking that it now rivals 'Legende d'Eer'. Can't even believe I'm saying that, but this mix finally seems to blend the sounds into a weightless, majestic mass that hangs in the air like doom. It no longer sounds like an undifferentiated multitracked soundscape, it sounds like a single living unity. I can hardly wait until midnight tonight to play it again.

-- jl (milto...), August 7th, 2003.

See I didn't think I'll be able to tell the diff between this and the fractal version, but I can def hear that weightless-ness you seem to be hearing.

This CD also comes in with another of his electroacoustic compositions 'polytope de cluny', which is not available anywhere else. And its very good.

The edition RZ 2 CD set is THE xenakis to have. CD1 gives recordings of his compositions for orchestra from the 50s and 60s and they are great attempts are reconfiguring orchestral sound. If you like 'gruppen' and 'heterophonie' (kagel) you need to hear this.

The chamber music set on montaigne doesn't quite do it for me, I think 'stochaism' worked incredibly well for orchestras, but not effective enough when the numbers are down.

So basically the best stuff available:

1) ed RZ 2 CD set
2) EMF CD and 3) legend d'er (as great locust music)

There is another fractal CD with 2 more electronic compositions (from late 70s, early 80s) but I think he is repeating himself.

Also: I'm forming this idea that xenakis compositional peak years are from 1955- 1972. Anything outside those years that I have heard seems to have that edge missing.

the three you've named are certainly my favorites. I'd also add the asphodel recording of Kraanerg & the chant du monde disc with Eonta/Metastaseis/Pithoprakta.

playing 'concret PH' tonight on resonance FM at 7pm, like a goon

(I'm getting quite interested in bubblegum, any good collections out there)

Had forgotten 'legend...' is from '77 but I think on the acoustic side, anything I've heard doesn't seem to have grabbed me, but ok I'm sure there are a few out there.

prima- also get that AMM record with formanex (fibrr 06)

also at sound 323.

http://fibrr.records.free.fr/catalogue.html

very very different from the first second: the ticklingly quiet high frequency tones have all been savagely compressed and colored up, and made loud. much less subtle, far more brutal.

still the same basic structure, but radically remixed, all the sounds have new relationships to each other, and _everythings_ been noise walled and limited, much much less dynamic range than the original 1978 stereo version. the transitions between sections are much less noticable because the volume's been maxed out almost instantly. While it's interesting to hear some of these familiar sounds loud and closeup, the curve and sweep of the piece has gone missing.

just listened to the new one, wondering what was missing... then put on the old one to make sure... nope, still absolutely lifechanging. the squealing sounds leap out at you shockingly loud and the hovering clouds in the background seem alive... back to the new one... the squealing can't come in loud because the mix already has the life compressed out of it and the hovering clouds have the life crushed out of them...

I would objectively call the new mix an error, though I'll try it out a few more times, this new mix is a gaudy modern mess

http://www.rfh.org.uk/main/series/273.html

ba

claat

I saw this in last months -ish of the *guess which mag*. witnessed nono's 'la fabrica illuminata' (soprano/electronics) being perf earlier this year, the tape sounds great on that space - it can almost provoke a bout of synesthesia, i tells ya. so 'legend d'er' is the one to look forward to, maybe the movie, maybe everything else.

very frustrated that none of the reviews seem to be mentioning that it's a completely new mix, either. even the people who should know better.

there's a lot of people who'd prefer their Xenakis polite so this new mix does serve a viable social purpose, but y'know, fuck them

I'm finding this hard to believe

Not just the season ticket holders -- I'm thinking of several Boulez-head colleagues of mine who like their delirium heavily organized and have always found Xenakis uncouth or something, so the idea of a refined mix that reigns in & flattens Legend probably appeals to them.

get this

not the CD / DVD on Mode with the big X on the cover.

with a new mix by FURT!

re-read bits of this thread: there is a diamanda-xenakis conne(x)ion but she also worked with vinko globokar, whose 'oblak semen' disc is a must. and globokar was one of the first prominent solo perfs of 'new music', cpl of lps on deustche gramophon you'll find knocking round 2nd hand shops. Listening to her galas' 'vena cava' and 'schrei x' but coupling with her work in song, she's almost like an ideal entry point to all the 'hard' composition stuff. those discs, esp 'schrei x' detail her work with microphones and perf art tactics.

read the wire primer - anyone have any reservations about that chamber music disc? sure its necessary but I really disliked his piano pieces, found that they really undermined the whole package, which had those excellent str quartets. also wasn't into his solo stuff, like the LP he talks abt is named 'intecommunicazione' and that's by zimmermann, which i found it to be the best work for cello ever (its for piano and cello but the piano stalks it around)

I agree with paul (he puts it v nicely on this thread) on scale-down he's a tad disappointing.

but there's quite a bit to look out for: been neglecting 'oresteia'. 'joachimes', 'echange' and 'n'shima' sounded great. I never got 'pleaides' as I found the perc duo I witnessed at the perf i went to last year quite dull but maybe I'll try this, even if philip clark has a reservation.

"As a partisan against the Nazis, he (Xenakis) sustained injuries to his face and lost an eye..."

Which is complete bollocks, he lost his eye fighting for the Communists against the British. To be precise, he lost it during an assault on a British tank. If the South Bank can't get it right... Who's going to any of this? I haven't bought any tickets for any of the concerts yet.

I'm going to every concert I think, esp. looking forward to Legende d'Eer.

The CD has risen to the top of my 'needs to be remastered' list.

the highlights of the film were te big X himself. esp:

scene of him at his desk typing nos into a calculator, writes something down, then types some more numbers then goes 'ugh' as if to say that the calculation couldn't be made! - hilarity (of course he prob types the wronged key in)

also revisiting his old school (awful chequered trousers, btw), at one point going to the old ruins where theater used to take place - goes up a few steps - starts citing shakespeare in dodgy eng accent, then asks 'that ws good no?'

loads of artskool hotties to gawp at tho hurrah

'loads of artskool hotties to gawp at tho hurrah'

damn!

grr i couldn't make it but the xenakis gig i went to last year had one of the mego ppl (russell haswell i think) re-mixing xenakis - i dunno, I've been to a concert of berio's electronic music and without visuals this kind of thing falls a tad flat but still grr i couldn't stay!

i dont think i'm in a position to judge to what extent legend had been remixed or rejigged etc wrt to an original, but there were visuals; basically a glowing ember rectangle of red light on the stage, slowly growing and contracting and being all intense like. i will charitably say YAWN it sort of focused the maelstrom of sound (ie. a tardis materialises in the rainforest for 45 mins) insofar as it occured to you that one man composed this alone.

(I read bw's essay over a year ago on esther leaslie's site wtf! its been around for ages...maybe ppl want to overrate, it might be felt that he ws wronged bcz he dared to tell LIKE IT IS! I can't even quite recall that much about his argt right now)

loads of artskool hotties to gawp at tho hurrah

Indeed, there seemed to be an amazing number of attractive women there, I must go to more concerts of avant garde classical music!

there's another thread where alext rather elegantly dismantles BW's entire 'reading' of Adorno in the space of a few short paras, superb

Thursday 24 November 2005 - 7.30pm
new noise / John Kenny

Programme:
Iannis Xenakis - Dmaathan
John Cage - Ryoanji
Pedro Gomez-Egana - New work (World premiere)
Tansy Davies - New work
Burgess / Fairclough / Kenny / Miller - New work (World premiere) John Kenny - Wild Stone
John Kenny - The Voice of the Carnyx
Emily Hall - Join
Dobrinka Tabakova - Frozen Rive Flows
Ian Willcock - For the Republic

Part of the BMIC's Cutting Edge series 2005. For more information please visit the BMIC website. Tickets cost £7 & £10 and are available on 020 7928 1902.
The Warehouse, 13 Theed Street, London SE1 8ST

(near waterloo east - saw a wonderful concert last month w/ works by Finnissy, Barrett, Rzewski, Ian Pace and more)

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=yztoaNakKok&feature=related

'gmeeoorh' for organ (1974) is the shit.

I'll bet it is, but how to hear it? Has it ever been recorded?!!??!?! Groovin' on lots of solo Xenakis pieces lately. Love "Keren" for trombone, "Nomos Alpha", "Evyrali" et al.

And, apropos of nothing, my 10 favourite titles of Xenakis' pieces:

Waarg
Oophaa
Gmeeoorh
Kraanerg
Keqrops
Phlegra
Trookh
Terretektorh
Achorripsis
Theraps
Pithoprakta

Nitpick: should be Troorkh I think, for trombone + orkhestra?

Oh yeah, Troorkh, that's right

More Xenakis in "that" London, but didn't they do "Eonta" and "La légende d'Eer" the last time round?

"La légende d'Eer" once every six years is still too seldom. there should be a room where you can go to hear it in 8 channels every week

I saw the performance of "Oresteia" outdoors at CalArts last November and it was one to remember. they handed out hundreds of resonating coil noisemakers to the audience for the ending while the children's chorus ran through the audience shrieking the final 'chords'. maybe it was just the picnic & wine atmosphere but it all seemed to have a fun vibe even though it still sounded terrifying

shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar

hoping there isn't some trite ecumeno-mystical paratext trash accompanying this cuz for me it's just the sound of everything altogether

I love how it sounds the way the title would suggest it sounds.

that would be shaaAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaar to account for the exquistite portamento

Search:
Synaphaï
Antikhthon
Metastaesis
Aïs
Jonchaies
Evryali
Herma
Shaar

Destroy:
Kyania
Horos
Ioolkos

http://i.imgur.com/p2AR0.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn5F9m4Qf3w

xenakis died fifteen years ago today

Tempting new 5LP and CD box set of electroacoustic works now available. 14 copies of the vinyl left at the time of writing, don't sleep if you want one of these:

https://karlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/electroacoustic-works

^^^
I have been listening to that today. Persepolis (1972) and La Légende d’Eer (1978) on repeat.

Waiting for my copy of the 5CD to arrive from Germany.

Scored a nice clean copy of the GRM Works LP just the other day. I love the note for Bohor:

The author deliberately abstained from giving any descriptive information on his piece, letting the listener choose an imaginary route for himself

I'm getting so obsessed with this, I doubt I'll listen to much else for the next week.