Iannis Xenakis - Concret PH

Concret PH, for 2-track tape & at least 4 loudspeakers (1958)

A casual listener may not be aware of Iannis Xenakis' early involvement in the field of architecture. He worked for Le Corbusier for close to thirteen years, and helped design a handful of projects for the famed architect throughout the 1950s. His most important contribution was the design of the Philips Pavilion for the 1958 World Fair in Brussels. Le Corbusier was occupied with a major project in India, so much of the work on the pavilion fell to Xenakis, who created a striking tent-like form based on hyperbolic paraboloid curves. Le Corbusier aimed to create a multimedia presentation for Philips, a "poème électronique," that would incorporate film, slides, lighting effects, sculpture, and music. Edgard Varèse created his only entirely electronic score for this installation, and Xenakis, too, contributed a brief electronic piece.

[abscrete]

For info on the composition and the process behind you can read Xenakis book Formalized Music but in short the composer recorded sounds of burning wood etc then used a process of granular synthesis to create this sounds I hope it helps a bit. cheers!!!!

[alexandradeleon]

This is what it sounds like when my brain de-frags itself at night

[isabelveidt]

Sólo por curiosidad se me ocurrió leer sobre la Música Concreta y mencionaban a esta persona. Acabo de oirlo por primera vez y me encanta. Gracias por compartir esto con el.mundo.

[neonwind]

So beautiful, thank you for the upload.

[cdfbryce]

Yeah man! I did the same thing. I was fortunate to be working as a "classical music host" for my college radio station (WSVC) and I played pieces like this on my program. "Sweetmeat Cool" had many more listeners than I, ya know what I'm sayin...

[modulated_]

wow, never knew that about him that's wild. thanks for teaching me something today

[notimput]

Xenakis was discredited for the design of the Philips Pavilion for which it was composed for and originally played in as well. Although it was usual for Le Corbusier to take credit for the work of his pupils, Xenakis did not give in and finally parted after too many disagreements.
Check any source in literature about the Philips Pavilion or Xeankis, its definitely his composition. Furthermore, a piece as such would not necessarily be Varese's style, which makes it unlikely to be his composition.

[m.s.]

Obviously, it is raining glass in a flaming Radio Shack that is sinking into the earth.

[zigosepalum]

Xenakis est vraiment l'un des plus grands musiciens du XXe siècle.

[OutlandsCommunity]

I'm a bit mystified by your comments here, but I'm going on a memory that is almost 50 years old - I first heard this in 1962 or thereabouts and the composer was identified as Varese. Took me a while to locate the LP upon which it appeared but I seem to remember it saying that this was a Varese piece as well. I'll be looking for information about it but I did want to thank you for posting this piece and in such good quality.

[oppsite]

it's like you're really hearing the pop

[AntonioBSaDantas]

I really like this piece, thank you for posting it! Could also anyone tell me, what painting this one is? thanks

[onlinepokeraddict]

It sounds like a waterfall of plastic forks.

[briabba]

no to me it sounds like electronic components set on fire or frying you know like Diodes and chips set on fire

[briancornish]

burning embers - there's a lesson there

[antigen]

i would imagine the name 'concret' is more related to 'musique concrete' than brutalism .. no matter what his background

[exodia]

qui est la grace a Mr Paret du college jean lacaze ?

[tristanhedge]

I'm not deny that it's art or that it doesn't hold value. but why do people treat this guy like a genius for just recording nature things. It's not very impressive.