Erewhon VS Pleiades

[snyprrr]

I have taken quite an affection for multi-percussionist works, of which Xenakis's Pleaides (1979) has always seemed to me to be the Big Enchilada. But, another work, Hughes Dufourt's Erewhon (1972-76) is as perfect a 'buddy' for the Xenakis as one could hope for.

First off, I compare both pieces by their dedicatees, Les Percussions de Strassbourg: the Xenakis on Denon, and the Dufourt on Accord. Both pieces, in the most general terms, are outer movements of kinetic energy framing two inner movements of more or less esoteric character (though, Xenakis never really writes for 'quiet', haha). The Dufourt lasts almost 70mins., to Xenakis's 40mins. Both pieces appear to take, head on, the entire world of percussion, and make some Modern sense of it all.

The Xenakis piece should be well known to a few of us. If you've ever wondered what a High School Marching Band would sound like if its members came from the distant galaxies, well then, this piece is for you. Anyone interested in World Music, or even just Rock & Pop, should find this piece at least familiar 'sounding', in that most everyone alive today knows what tom-toms sound like, haha. As a satisfying percussion experience, Pleaides, to me, has it all, though, it must be said that it really doesn't, because everything is guided by Xenakis's preoccupations, which tend to show up in all his pieces, so, the pieces does sound like Xenakis.

The Dufourt is more Universal. The two outer movements are furious swirls of drumming, sounding to me very much like the 'history of the world' in a very Serengeti type way,... lots of thorns and thistles and buzzing mosquitos, and swirling meshes of brambles being swept by huge atmospheric forces, like a giant storm. Though, in these 'drumming' movements, Xenakis and Dufourt sound superficially the most alike, their approaches are totally different, and therefore the pieces complement each other perfectly. Dufourt is more Philosophical, whereas Xenakis is more 'Mundane' (in the Scientific sense).

The Dufourt's claim to fame (along with it Universalist approach) is its '150 instruments' (Xenakis doesn't use any cymbals, for instances (though, he invented a whole new instrument for Pleaides)), which you might be hard pressed to figure out. In the 'drumming' sections, part of the complexity derives from so many similar, yet different sounding instruments. In the Xenakis, we are treated to a strictly homophonic mass of generic Modern tom-toms. The overt effect of 'drumming' is still the same, but the 'types' of movement are totally different: Xenakis sounds more like individual atoms bouncing around in a container according to scientific principles, whereas Dufourt sounds much more 'dirty' (partially due to all the various hand attacks, whereas Xenakis uses sticks exclusively).

Xenakis's two inner movements are for melodic percussions, still making 'music', but Dufourt uses his vast canvases to plunge us into 'sound' journey. The second movement last for almost 30mins.! Both inner movements of the Dufourt last as long as the entire Xenakis piece. All I can say is, if you're looking for 45mins. of mysterious exploration of all manner of percussion issues, and sounds, this is the Grail for you (and me!). I think both pieces work together so well that, in comparing them, both pieces seem to get even better.

I really wrote all this to pique your curiosity for the Dufourt. As one, single piece, it was the first to truly tackle the 'problem' of the percussions and traditions from all over the world, truly a World Music piece (though infinitely more satisfying than, was it Planet Drum by the DeadHeads??).

I think Pleaides is a work that many non-Xenakians must have, simply because it IS a percussion (familiar sounding) piece, and doesn't pose the usual listening problems. If you value this piece, please consider Erewhon. Somewhere I heard the word 'tepid' used to describe this piece, but I will disagree and call it 'cumulative'. It certainly delivers on the ear candy, and I find no structural issues, or wot not, and, I can't stop listening to it. It works!

So, as to the Thread Title, it most certainly is a draw! Enjoy.

[some guy]

Thanks synprrr, I just added that to my want list.

(Big fan of Pleiades, too, just by the way.)

[snyprrr]

Thanks synprrr, I just added that to my want list.

(Big fan of Pleiades, too, just by the way.)

Let me know in time what you think.

I think we can get a few more nibbles here!

[bhodges]

Another fan of the Xenakis here, which I had the great pleasure of hearing live back in March by the Strasbourg group - review here. It was a fantastic evening.

But don't know any music by Dufourt yet - despite comments from friends, and I love spectral music - so this is definitely of interest to me.

PS, very amusing about the Xenakis: "If you've ever wondered what a High School Marching Band would sound like if its members came from the distant galaxies, well then, this piece is for you." 

--Bruce

[Wanderer]

Hate to act like a judge in a spelling bee, but that "Pleaides" in the thread title is burning my eyes. Just saying...

[karlhenning]

Hate to act like a judge in a spelling bee, but that "Pleaides" in the thread title is burning my eyes. Just saying...

Here's hoping the OP hears your plea...

[snyprrr]

Hate to act like a judge in a spelling bee, but that "Pleaides" in the thread title is burning my eyes. Just saying...

gotcha!

[karlhenning]

Uncle! I've ordered my copy of The Pleiades . . . .

[snyprrr]

Uncle! I've ordered my copy of The Pleiades . . . .

uh oh,... which one? Hopefully it wasn't the Harmonia Mundi one... sonics a bit claustrophobic on that one.

Denon or BIS.

[snyprrr]

Another fan of the Xenakis here, which I had the great pleasure of hearing live back in March by the Strasbourg group - review here. It was a fantastic evening.

But don't know any music by Dufourt yet - despite comments from friends, and I love spectral music - so this is definitely of interest to me.

PS, very amusing about the Xenakis: "If you've ever wondered what a High School Marching Band would sound like if its members came from the distant galaxies, well then, this piece is for you." 

--Bruce

I was going to ask you about that Grisey piece. Could you check the Amazon listing for me: it says I need 'compatible' equipment (is that SACD?,... I'm pre-historic here),... does that mean my boom-box won't play it? I think the Grisey must be the third 'Cornerstone', along with the Xenakis and Dufourt.

[bhodges]

You mean Le noir de l'étoile? Just saw that the Strasbourg recording is in SACD format, but it should play just fine on your equipment. (You just won't hear the extra SACD resolution.)

Definitely a piece worth hearing. I was incredibly lucky this year to hear it live, twice - first in January by the combined Talujon and TimeTable percussion groups, and then by the Strasbourg crew in March - so I haven't heard the recording yet. But I found the piece quite amazing (as with most of Grisey I've heard).

--Bruce

[snyprrr]

You mean Le noir de l'étoile? Just saw that the Strasbourg recording is in SACD format, but it should play just fine on your equipment. (You just won't hear the extra SACD resolution.)

Definitely a piece worth hearing. I was incredibly lucky this year to hear it live, twice - first in January by the combined Talujon and TimeTable percussion groups, and then by the Strasbourg crew in March - so I haven't heard the recording yet. But I found the piece quite amazing (as with most of Grisey I've heard).

--Bruce

Yes, thanks.