Classic mid-period Works of XENAKIS (1969-1989)

Started by snyprrr, January 22, 2009, 06:51:28 PM

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snyprrr

hello again.
in this thread i would like to highlight what i consider the continuous stream of essential pieces, what many fans have come to regard as the apex of high modernism.
without further ado...

i'm gonna begin with the piano concerto SYNAPHAI (1969), and set it aside for a moment.

orchestrally i'm including:                             ENSEMBLE:                                                                                                                                      PERCUSSION /MISC.

ERIDANOS (1972)                                       AROURA (1971)                                    POUR LES BALIENES (1982)
CENDREES (1973)                                      RETOURS-WINDUNGEN (1976)............SHAAR (1982)
ERIKHTHON (1974)                                                                                                  TETRAS (1983)......MIKKA (1971)                                           
NOOMENA (1974)                                                                                                                                 THERAPS (1976)                                      GMEEOORGH (1974)
EMPRIENTES (1975)                                    PHLEGRA (1975)                                                                 MIKKA S (1976)                                       PSAPPHA (1975)
JONCHAIES (1977)                                      AKANTHOS (1977)                                                              KOTTOS (1977)                                       PLEIADES (1978)
ANEMOESSA (1979)                                   PALIMPSEST (1979)                                                             IKHOOR (1978)
NEKUIA (1981)                                            A I'LE DE GOREE (1986)                                                       EMBELLIE (1981)                                   KHOAI (1976)
LICHENS/ THALLEIN (1984) ........................JALONS (1986)                                                    EVRYALI    DIKHTHAS (1979)  MISTS                      DMAATHEN (1976)
KEQROPS/ TRACEES                                                                                                                                 AKEA (1986)                                         KOMBOI (1981)
                                                                                                            LINEA-AGON?                                                                                            KHAL PERR (1983)
                                                                                                            EPEI?                                                                                                         NAAMA (1984)
                                                                                                           KEREN?  REBONDS?

                                                                                                            N'SHIMA?
                                                                                                            NUITS?
                                                                                                            AIS?



ididn't include the "greek" music, or the
electro-acoustic, but please, feel free.

i find mixing and matching recitals of these pieces very exciting

milk

Quote from: snyprrr on January 22, 2009, 06:51:28 PM
hello again.
in this thread i would like to highlight what i consider the continuous stream of essential pieces, what many fans have come to regard as the apex of high modernism.
without further ado...

i'm gonna begin with the piano concerto SYNAPHAI (1969), and set it aside for a moment.

orchestrally i'm including:                             ENSEMBLE:                                                                                                                                      PERCUSSION /MISC.

ERIDANOS (1972)                                       AROURA (1971)                                    POUR LES BALIENES (1982)
CENDREES (1973)                                      RETOURS-WINDUNGEN (1976)............SHAAR (1982)
ERIKHTHON (1974)                                                                                                  TETRAS (1983)......MIKKA (1971)                                           
NOOMENA (1974)                                                                                                                                 THERAPS (1976)                                      GMEEOORGH (1974)
EMPRIENTES (1975)                                    PHLEGRA (1975)                                                                 MIKKA S (1976)                                       PSAPPHA (1975)
JONCHAIES (1977)                                      AKANTHOS (1977)                                                              KOTTOS (1977)                                       PLEIADES (1978)
ANEMOESSA (1979)                                   PALIMPSEST (1979)                                                             IKHOOR (1978)
NEKUIA (1981)                                            A I'LE DE GOREE (1986)                                                       EMBELLIE (1981)                                   KHOAI (1976)
LICHENS/ THALLEIN (1984) ........................JALONS (1986)                                                    EVRYALI    DIKHTHAS (1979)  MISTS                      DMAATHEN (1976)
KEQROPS/ TRACEES                                                                                                                                 AKEA (1986)                                         KOMBOI (1981)
                                                                                                            LINEA-AGON?                                                                                            KHAL PERR (1983)
                                                                                                            EPEI?                                                                                                         NAAMA (1984)
                                                                                                           KEREN?  REBONDS?

                                                                                                            N'SHIMA?
                                                                                                            NUITS?
                                                                                                            AIS?



ididn't include the "greek" music, or the
electro-acoustic, but please, feel free.

i find mixing and matching recitals of these pieces very exciting
Thanks for this. This helped me make some purchases today.

snyprrr

Quote from: milk on July 13, 2014, 04:27:16 AM
Thanks for this. This helped me make some purchases today.

We've been waiting for you for 5 years! :laugh: :-[

Please- please consult me before you do anything rash!

milk

Quote from: snyprrr on July 13, 2014, 07:49:50 AM
We've been waiting for you for 5 years! :laugh: :-[

Please- please consult me before you do anything rash!
Oh! Well, I bought some Mode stuff (and I've had the EMG stuff for while but I tend to ignore large orchestral music for a long time): Ensemble music 3 and Works with Piano. But I'm making a playlist with specific things and skipping the rest for now:


2 Akanthos
3 Thalleïn
4 Metastaseis
5 Persephassa
6 Pleiades - I. Melanges
7 Pleiades - Ii. Claviers
8 Pleiades - Iii. Metaux
9 Pleiades - Iv. Peaux
10 Komboi
11 Okho
12 Oophaa
13 Ata (1987) For 89 Musicians
14 Metastaseis (1953-54) For 60 Mu...
15 Loolkos (1996) For Large Orches...
16 Jonchaies (1977) For 109 Musici...
17 Akea

Mandryka

#4
Don't forget Kraanerg and Nomos Alpha.
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

milk


milk


7/4


milk

Quote from: 7/4 on July 14, 2014, 04:59:14 AM
Pleiades is intense!
I love all the percussion stuff. I'm trying to figure out what else I need right away. I wonder how Xenakis is connected to other composers. I read somewhere (maybe around here?) that someone said Ligeti composed more "conventionally" in that he could hear what he composed beforehand whereas Xenakis was using "science" to compose in a way that is somewhat different from what one could imagine on one's own? I guess I hear a connection in Grisey. I had a prejudice against it reading about Xenakis before I heard him but now I find myself more connected to it in my reactions than Ligeti. I don't know exactly why. I like Ligeti a lot but he hasn't knocked me down yet. I find Xenakis really exciting and surprising. Maybe I'm drawn to his tones.

snyprrr

Quote from: milk on July 13, 2014, 09:44:21 PM
The harpsichord stuff is great!

On the Mode? Yes, the two pieces, quite different, are beautifully captured- some of the best modern harpsichord recording right there.

So, yea, the Modes you got are great- also get the Aki Piano Music now that you have 'Works with Piano'. And what of the String Quartets?

Stay away from 'Ensemble Music' 1-2 for the time being. Vol.3 more than makes up.

milk

Quote from: snyprrr on July 15, 2014, 07:13:20 AM
On the Mode? Yes, the two pieces, quite different, are beautifully captured- some of the best modern harpsichord recording right there.

So, yea, the Modes you got are great- also get the Aki Piano Music now that you have 'Works with Piano'. And what of the String Quartets?

Stay away from 'Ensemble Music' 1-2 for the time being. Vol.3 more than makes up.
Great! Yes, I just downloaded the Aki piano music.

EigenUser

Quote from: milk on July 15, 2014, 04:14:58 AM
I like Ligeti a lot but he hasn't knocked me down yet.
Hey! I saw that! >:(

*whispers* Try the piano concerto

(it's all good 8), Ligeti was a process for me, too :))

Quote from: milk on July 15, 2014, 04:14:58 AM
I love all the percussion stuff.
Not to derail the thread, but have you heard Varese? Particularly "Ameriques", and also "Ionisation" and "Integrales"? I bet you would love those pieces. "Ameriques" is an over-the-top tone poem of NYC in the 1920s (complete with siren!). Thrilling. Also, Boulez's orchestrated "Notations" -- particularly the last one (marked "Tres Vif, Stridente"). I never knew that Boulez could be so compelling and visceral until I heard these.

So now I have a question related to the thread. What Xenakis would be best for a diehard Ligetian? I've heard "Metastasis", "Pithoprakta", "Nomos Alpha", "Mikka", and "Jonchaies". So far, it did nothing for me. Any recommendations for the future?
Beethoven's Op. 133 -- A fugue so bad that even Beethoven himself called it "Grosse".

milk

Quote from: EigenUser on July 16, 2014, 03:24:54 AM
Hey! I saw that! >:(

*whispers* Try the piano concerto

(it's all good 8), Ligeti was a process for me, too :))
Not to derail the thread, but have you heard Varese? Particularly "Ameriques", and also "Ionisation" and "Integrales"? I bet you would love those pieces. "Ameriques" is an over-the-top tone poem of NYC in the 1920s (complete with siren!). Thrilling. Also, Boulez's orchestrated "Notations" -- particularly the last one (marked "Tres Vif, Stridente"). I never knew that Boulez could be so compelling and visceral until I heard these.

So now I have a question related to the thread. What Xenakis would be best for a diehard Ligetian? I've heard "Metastasis", "Pithoprakta", "Nomos Alpha", "Mikka", and "Jonchaies". So far, it did nothing for me. Any recommendations for the future?
Funny because I just downloaded the Boulez in question. I haven't listened to it yet. It will be my first encounter with Varese.

North Star

Quote from: EigenUser on July 16, 2014, 03:24:54 AM
So now I have a question related to the thread. What Xenakis would be best for a diehard Ligetian? I've heard "Metastasis", "Pithoprakta", "Nomos Alpha", "Mikka", and "Jonchaies". So far, it did nothing for me. Any recommendations for the future?
I'm not really a Xenakis expert, but you could try Tetras, Dikhthas, and Tetora.
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

My photographs on Flickr

milk

Quote from: EigenUser on July 16, 2014, 03:24:54 AM
Hey! I saw that! >:(

*whispers* Try the piano concerto

(it's all good 8), Ligeti was a process for me, too :))
Not to derail the thread, but have you heard Varese? Particularly "Ameriques", and also "Ionisation" and "Integrales"? I bet you would love those pieces. "Ameriques" is an over-the-top tone poem of NYC in the 1920s (complete with siren!). Thrilling. Also, Boulez's orchestrated "Notations" -- particularly the last one (marked "Tres Vif, Stridente"). I never knew that Boulez could be so compelling and visceral until I heard these.

So now I have a question related to the thread. What Xenakis would be best for a diehard Ligetian? I've heard "Metastasis", "Pithoprakta", "Nomos Alpha", "Mikka", and "Jonchaies". So far, it did nothing for me. Any recommendations for the future?
The two harpsichord pieces are great: Komboi and Oopha. The percussion stuff is amazing: Pleiades blows me away!

EigenUser

Quote from: North Star on July 16, 2014, 05:14:51 AM
I'm not really a Xenakis expert, but you could try Tetras, Dikhthas, and Tetora.
Quote from: milk on July 16, 2014, 05:47:32 AM
The two harpsichord pieces are great: Komboi and Oopha. The percussion stuff is amazing: Pleiades blows me away!
Thanks guys! I'll keep these in the back of my mind.
Beethoven's Op. 133 -- A fugue so bad that even Beethoven himself called it "Grosse".

North Star

Oh yes, I definitely second that Pleiades recommendation!
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

My photographs on Flickr

7/4

Quote from: North Star on July 16, 2014, 05:55:12 AM
Oh yes, I definitely second that Pleiades recommendation!

I erased my response, there's a wiki entry: Pléïades

"Three of the movements (Métaux, Claviers and Peaux) derive their names from specific instrumental types. In Métaux (French, "Metals"), all of the six instrumentalists play an instrument called sixxen (a blend between "six", named after the six musicians, and "xen", named after Xenakis), which is an instrument Xenakis had constructed specifically for this composition (they were made by the ensemble). The instrument in question consists of nineteen bars, of aluminum or bronze and steel, tuned microtonally (to an unequal 21-note scale built from 1/4 and 1/3 tones), laid out keyboard-style, and it is meant to be played with metal hammers. In Claviers (French: "Keyboards"), Xenakis uses vibraphones, marimbas, xylophones, and xylorimbas. In Peaux (French: "Skins"), only percussion instruments with skins are played (bongos, tom-toms, drums and so on). In Mélanges (French: "Mixture"), the composer uses all of the sounds above mentioned."

metal hammers, that helps move things along...so does that tuning.

metal on metal!

snyprrr

Quote from: EigenUser on July 16, 2014, 03:24:54 AM
Hey! I saw that! >:(

*whispers* Try the piano concerto

(it's all good 8), Ligeti was a process for me, too :))
Not to derail the thread, but have you heard Varese? Particularly "Ameriques", and also "Ionisation" and "Integrales"? I bet you would love those pieces. "Ameriques" is an over-the-top tone poem of NYC in the 1920s (complete with siren!). Thrilling. Also, Boulez's orchestrated "Notations" -- particularly the last one (marked "Tres Vif, Stridente"). I never knew that Boulez could be so compelling and visceral until I heard these.

So now I have a question related to the thread. What Xenakis would be best for a diehard Ligetian? I've heard "Metastasis", "Pithoprakta", "Nomos Alpha", "Mikka", and "Jonchaies". So far, it did nothing for me. Any recommendations for the future?

Try his most Stravinskyian piece, 'Ata'? (on the Timpani set, - YT- the other version doesn't really sound so well)

If 'Jonchaies' didn't do anything, maybe nothing will?