Iannis Xenakis - Metastaseis (Official Score Video)

Listen and follow along with our B&H Study Score Video featuring the official publisher's score of Iannis Xenakis' "Metastaseis." Xenakis's centennial is celebrated next year on May 29, 2022.

Xenakis explained the title of this work, "Meta=after + staseis=a state of standstills—dialectic transformations." These dialectic transformations take place across 61 parts (the 61 instrumentalists each have their own unique parts), building on Xenakis's sound mass technique. Each player performs glissandi at different pitches throughout the work, keeping it in constant motion. The curves of the many glissandi appeared even in the earliest sketches for the work, before they had notes, showing the contours of the piece like an architectural blueprint. Years later, these glissandi shapes were used as the basis of the Philips Pavilion, designed by Xenakis, who was also an architect.

Music:
Metastaseis, for orchestra
Composed by Iannis Xenakis
Performed by Arturo Tamayo and Orchestra Sinfonica RAI
Courtesy of Mode Records

#BHStudyScores

[CraigRipenburg]

the Lucasfilm THX theme sounds like it intro of this ALOT

[SammyLk]

I now know that I knew absolutely nothing before right now.

[brightlin]

1:35 sounds like bombs landing in trenches