Xenakis - Atrées, Morsima-Amorsima, Nomos Alpha, ST 4 & Achorripsis - Warner Classics: 6876742 - download

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there's an authentic roughness and excitement in the playing — BBC Music Magazine, April 2010, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 18th Jan 2010
Catalogue No: 6876742
Label: Warner Classics
Series: 20th Century Classics
Length: 1 hour 48 minutes

Xenakis: Atrées Pour 10 Instruments - En 5 Parties

Work length18:01

$6.50

$8.50

Ensemble instrumental de musique contemporaine de Paris
Konstantin Simonovitch
Recorded: 1967-01-01

1ère Partie

Track length0:57

$1.30

$1.70

3ème Partie

Track length3:44

$1.30

$1.70

5ème Partie

Track length6:06

$1.30

$1.70

2ème Partie

Track length2:26

$1.30

$1.70

4ème Partie

Track length4:48

$1.30

$1.70

Xenakis: Morsima-Amorsima for piano, violin, cello & double-bass

Work length12:00

Album only

Georges Pludermacher (piano), Jacques Cazauran (double bass), Jean-Claude Bernède (violin), Paul Boufil (cello)
Recorded: 1967-01-01

Xenakis: Nomos Alpha For Solo Cello

Work length18:03

Album only

Pierre Penassou (cello)
Recorded: 1967-01-01

Xenakis: Herma, Musique Symbolique Pour Piano

Work length8:05

$1.30

$1.70

Georges Pludermacher (piano)
Recorded: 1968-01-01

Xenakis: ST 4 For String Quartet

Work length13:21

Album only

Quatuor Bernède (string quartet)
Recorded: 1967-01-01

Xenakis: Polla Ta Dhina For Children's Choir & Orchestra (1962)

Work length7:44

$1.30

$1.70

Ensemble instrumental de musique contemporaine de Paris, Maîtrise de Notre-Dame de Paris
Konstantin Simonovitch
Recorded: 1969-01-01

Xenakis: ST 10 - 1,080262 For 10 Instruments (1956-1962)

Work length12:20

Album only

Ensemble instrumental de musique contemporaine de Paris
Konstantin Simonovitch
Recorded: 1969-01-01

Xenakis: Akrata For 16 Wind Instruments (1964-1965)

Work length14:00

Album only

Ensemble instrumental de musique contemporaine de Paris
Konstantin Simonovitch
Recorded: 1969-01-01

Xenakis: Achorripsis For 21 Instruments (1956-1957)

Work length5:18

$1.30

$1.70

Ensemble instrumental de musique contemporaine de Paris
Konstantin Simonovitch
Recorded: 1969-01-01

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About

Iannis Xenakis was born in Romania in 1922 of Greek parents. In 1932 his family moved back to Greece where he commenced his studies, eventually specialising in engineering and architecture: in music he was largely self-taught. During WWII Xenakis was a member of the Resistance in Greece and, in 1945, sustained a severe facial injury that resulted in the loss of sight in one eye. Sentenced to death by the post-war right-wing Greek government, Xenakis escaped Greece with the intention of reaching the USA, but on arrival in France, in 1947, he settled there and became a French citizen.

In France Xenakis took up studies with some of the most prominent composers at work in Paris at the time, including Honneger, Milhaud and then, most importantly, Messiaen. He met the architect Le Corbusier who employed his engineering skills and then took him into collaboration. It was whilst with Le Corbusier that Xenakis worked on some important architectural projects, one of the most notable being the design of the Philips pavillion at the 1958 Brussels Exposition.

During the 1950s music became Xenakis' increasing preoccupation and, with the encouragement of Messiaen, in 1953-54, he produced Metastasis, his first major work for orchestra. During the 1950s Xenakis pioneered electronic and computer music and became a major voice in the music world and many younger composers came under his influence, notably Penderecki and Takemitsu, who both acknowledged this influence. Xenakis died in Paris on 4 February 2001.

The works on these two discs were all written in the 1950s & 60s, at a time when Xenakis was at his most productive. It has to be said that, to the casual listener, this is not easy listening. However, to the more adventurous collector and to those prepared to explore new musical avenues, this set of the music of Xenakis will prove a rare and valuable opportunity.

Reviews

April 2010

there's an authentic roughness and excitement in the playing

July 2010

These 40-year-old recordings still pack a considerable acoustic punch. Remastered to keep the original colours sharp without adding anachronistic atmosphere, they provide powerful testimony of the commitment of pioneering performers to difficult but memorable new music...the music radiates the timeless force of true modernity.

Xenakis - Atrées, Morsima-Amorsima, Nomos Alpha, ST 4 & Achorripsis

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