Great Composers: Iannis Xenakis

Architecture? In classical music? It's more likely than you think.

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Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.

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Music:

- Iannis Xenakis: Keqrops (1986), performed by Claudio Abbado and the Mahlerjugendorchester conducted by Roger Woodward [original upload: xFOUBHJp3Ms]
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette

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All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[mirandac]

pivotal composer. immense talent, wonderful soul -- one of the true visionaries.

[davidbrant]

Good to see a video on Xenakis (one of THE greatest composers of all time, period) but I think you overplayed the mathematical side (which has more relevance to his work between aprox 1955-1972) and downplayed the majority of his mature work.
His career can be sliced quite nicely into three periods, one being based around architecture and science-influence aesthetics, the second period being his golden-age, where artistic influence switched to Greek Mythology, Platonism and his music started reflecting back on how he followed in the Stravinsky/Varese/Messiaen lineage - then the third period, where his music slowed down more and took on a slightly austere approach to what he had explored in the second period.
His really, really early available works (pre-Metastasis), show what he was initially planning or prophesying to become as a composer ("The greek Bartok" in his words, or greek Varese). That first period reflects his growth and explorations to lead him to become what he set out to be. The first period doesn't represent him at his strongest (but it does feature Oresteia, which is a major hinting from him and is a work "testing the waters") but they are innovative, science, architecture and mathematics where really big things for him, coming out of WW2, so it's natural that he saw his own musical growth within Scientific development. Once he had risen to truly encapsulate "Xenakis" in the mid 70s, his music drifted directly into Greek Mythology, Philosophy, Mysticism and raw human emotion.

I think most people (even Xenakis fans themselves) don't conceive of this, as there is that tendency to only see the superficial and ignore the more relevant subtext (for varying reasons). I enjoyed your video but I wish you had dug into the core of Xenakis' work (which is extraordinary), which is far, far more than maths - though I like that you tackled the political aspect.

[annakatakanna]

He should embrace what he had that made him so unique and different.

Messiaen sounds like a good mentor

[ukdavepianoman]

Very interesting talk. Xenakis is a very intriguing composer and after a bit of "effort" I discovered I do like/appreciate his music. He did create some really fascinating sound worlds.

[ShorkGamer]

Amazing to see how all these biographies slowly touch each other.

[georgeioan]

Just wanted to say that your channel is great! keep up the good work, quality content right here!

[quiteenough]

The performers of Keqrops was (if you still interested) - Claudio Abbado, Roger Woodward and the Mahlerjugendorchester, live performance from the Wienerkonzerthaus, October, 1992. At the time of upload I didn't know the performers nor I was able to find any.

[Michail_Chatziasemidis]

Trivia: "X" in "Xenakis" is really a /ks/ sound, since it is a transliteration of ξι. His name in Greek is Ξενάκης.

[seanramsdell]

You're the only YouTuber that I can just listen to and not worry about the next shot

[leonardobautista]

Iannis Xenakis, one of the true geniuses of the 20th century.

[EvilisEvilis]

I find it interesting that you said he said the goal was to be more scientific with how music is composed, because his soundscapes are very philosophical to me, in nature. I mean, they scream against what can be considered "music", "art", "skill", etc. They bite at established norms deriding dissonance. They are the echoes of the universe, if it had them, as I can metaphorically put it. Some of his pieces could be considered, like "Particle Physics, the Musical", for freaks' sake.

Anyways, enjoyed your video, and... yeah, uprising of the people against establishment—pretty vague description—but I imagine that can still happen, oh yes, quite soon indeed.

[LennyMemery]

Excellent background build-up to the music itself. Super-charged stuff!

[Urdatorn]

Stellar work! Really appreciated the video. Xenakis helped me through some rough days. My favourite acoustic piece is "Rebonds B" (1987-1989) and my favourite electronic composition is "Orient-Occident" (1960). To newcomers, I can't recommend enough the compilation album "Electronic Music (1957-1992)". It was my first encounter with IX and it reconfigured my whole mind irreversibly (for the better). That album was such my challenge and my addiction at the same time, and many were the late nights I put on my headphones and took a walk to tumble through those tracks, trying to wrap my head around them. Xenakis makes me sweat, and never fails to inspire.

Amazing channel overall! For a request, may I suggest a future video on Henri Pousseur? :)

[tedbyron]

Messian taught Luc Ferrari too...
As compelling as his instrumental music is, his Concrete pieces my favorites.
I feel that medium suits his architectural aptitude in a very compact and economic style vis a vis instrumentals

[Musicandcatsmeow]

🙌thanks for adding humor to it! Your videos are helping me study for my finals

[georgemurphy]

I'm not sure if you actually perform, but you certainly are spot on in the historical
Thanks for all of what you do to make this information available to musicians, and non-musicians alike!!!

[makucevich]

I was a little surprised that Ligeti didn't like Xenakis's music and Copeland invited him to teach. I've always loved the music of all three but my respect for Copeland grew even greater.

[LICHEVALIER]

I really enjoyed your introduction! Thank you!

[tomd]

If you like electroacoustic music, I would suggest Francis Dhomont. "Chambre d'enfants" and "antichambre" are nice pieces.

[myprivatestash]

I would offer a slight correction. He was indeed influenced by his study of the pelog scale found in gamelan music. He combined it with his “pitch sieve” theory. This can be heard most clearly in his percussion masterpiece Pleiades. Even though he actively fought against being influenced by other composers’ works, to the point of avoiding new music concerts in his latter years.