GMG Classical Music Forum

Ok, in reality we can like all or bits of both...it could be said that one is the spawn of the other, and both seemed to deal with the flesh of sound following their own unique logic, but if you were forced at gunpoint to choose only one, who would it be? (you can explain why if necessary)

I gain more personal enjoyment from Xenakis, but when looking at his full body of work he seems quite uneven, wheras Varèse's output is studded with gems. So I am going to have to be shot... 0:)

Edit: horrible grammar.

I would choose Xenakis, strictly for practical reasons.  As of today, I haven't heard most of his work, whereas I have heard everything by Varèse.  So much as I like old Edgard--and I'm still replaying Boulez and Chicago flooding Carnegie Hall with Amériques a few weeks ago--I'd have to go with the one who offers me a huge amount of unexplored territory. 

--Bruce

Not fair.  All of varese's music fits on 2 cds.

And I can't get over that air raid siren!

of course...it's Xenakis!

Xenakis.......
but still, I have to say, sometimes I think there's hardly any of even Xenakis' output which matches the brilliance of Ameriques.... but since Xenakis wrote more.....

Varese, but it wouldn't take a gun. I love his music.

NO :'(you're all wrong I tell you

NO :'(NO :'(NO :'(

they're the SAME person!!! t

think about it...1958...

I go with Varese-- he was more of a visionary, and clearly way ahead of his time. 

I was composing something with some software, and lining up both purely digital tracks, as well as some "midi" stuff where the program would translate standard notation into sound when I read of quote of Varese from 1936, where he said that in teh future, composers would be able to generate their works directly from notation, although the notation may need to be more "seismic".  It blew me away that he foresaw this so clearly.

Also glad to hear so many others like Ameriques.  That's a fave.

Close, but a more adventurous life story breaks the tie!

(PS:That means Xenakis wins...)

Xenakis is who I would vote for in this poll (if I could have voted), although I do love several of Varese's works. I don't think this versus matchup is really all that fair of one for the reasons that many have already pointed out: Xenakis composed a lot more music than Varese. But, like others, it's hard to beat the sheer brilliance of Ameriques, but Xenakis is still a composer I'm exploring at the moment.

Quote from: Mirror Image on November 08, 2013, 09:26:39 PM
Xenakis is who I would vote for in this poll (if I could have voted), although I do love several of Varese's works. I don't think this versus matchup is really all that fair of one for the reasons that many have already pointed out: Xenakis composed a lot more music than Varese. But, like others, it's hard to beat the sheer brilliance of Ameriques, but Xenakis is still a composer I'm exploring at the moment.

Same here...couldn't vote.

Interesting how the 'Game Theory' Thread pops up right after I spoke with Brian over at Mode Records yesterday, and I made sure to grill him on up-coming releases; and the two things that he confirmed (I'll take just about anything as a Xenakis fan these days :( ) is that a) there will be 3 releases next year in the ongoing ModeXenakisSeries, and that one of them will be the (basically) World Premiere (at least CD, but I know of no LP release) of the (I think) 1970 (or '69?) 'Game' piece, Linea Agon, for brass trio, which, apparently will be a DVD release with three different versions, and I'm guessing some kind of interactivity? (which seems really tantalizing!)

Frankly, James, 'Linea Agon' seems like just the kind Xenakis work that maybe blurs the line between any particular Composer that was working at around the same time, no?,... meaning, (and going back to that old caveat) that, at around this time, IX, and ykw, were both exploring similar... mm... 'concerns'... no... 'end results',... meaning, whether a 20min. brass trio from IX, or a radio piece, or intuitive, or.. you know... there is still going to be about the same quantity of ear fatigue from hearing so many 'raw' sounds? gnowmeisayin?

Anyhow, how's THAT for some raw Composer data, huh? Doncha love getting creative personnel on the line and getting the hot scoop?!?! So, anyhow, I am curious about the other two releases, but keep in mind that there won't probably be any Orchestral works, and,- and here's a scoop,- Brian is really right now being forced to put out what the actual performers are touring with- meaning, he had no control over the line-up on the current ModeNewRelease 'Ensemble Music 3', which explains why there are three duplicates from Mode's own ongoing Series. So, at least he clarified why Mode's choices of material for each CD seems odd at times, and how one can't really predict what will be on those other two releases (though, I could see more 'Electronic Music',- apparently there won't be a JACK Quartet recording of the rest of the solo string pieces yet- ah, it's just madness waiting for the pieces THIS reviewer has been craving!!)

Quote from: snyprrr on November 09, 2013, 07:56:01 AM
Interesting how the 'Game Theory' Thread pops up right after I spoke with Brian over at Mode Records yesterday, and I made sure to grill him on up-coming releases; and the two things that he confirmed (I'll take just about anything as a Xenakis fan these days :( ) is that a) there will be 3 releases next year in the ongoing ModeXenakisSeries, and that one of them will be the (basically) World Premiere (at least CD, but I know of no LP release) of the (I think) 1970 (or '69?) 'Game' piece, Linea Agon, for brass trio, which, apparently will be a DVD release with three different versions, and I'm guessing some kind of interactivity? (which seems really tantalizing!)

Frankly, James, 'Linea Agon' seems like just the kind Xenakis work that maybe blurs the line between any particular Composer that was working at around the same time, no?,... meaning, (and going back to that old caveat) that, at around this time, IX, and ykw, were both exploring similar... mm... 'concerns'... no... 'end results',... meaning, whether a 20min. brass trio from IX, or a radio piece, or intuitive, or.. you know... there is still going to be about the same quantity of ear fatigue from hearing so many 'raw' sounds? gnowmeisayin?

Anyhow, how's THAT for some raw Composer data, huh? Doncha love getting creative personnel on the line and getting the hot scoop?!?! So, anyhow, I am curious about the other two releases, but keep in mind that there won't probably be any Orchestral works, and,- and here's a scoop,- Brian is really right now being forced to put out what the actual performers are touring with- meaning, he had no control over the line-up on the current ModeNewRelease 'Ensemble Music 3', which explains why there are three duplicates from Mode's own ongoing Series. So, at least he clarified why Mode's choices of material for each CD seems odd at times, and how one can't really predict what will be on those other two releases (though, I could see more 'Electronic Music',- apparently there won't be a JACK Quartet recording of the rest of the solo string pieces yet- ah, it's just madness waiting for the pieces THIS reviewer has been craving!!)

Well, Kraanerg (Mode recording) is definitely en route to my humble abode. I certainly can't wait to sink my teeth into this work, but I still have three more discs to go in that Timpani set of orchestral works. I'll definitely be looking through the Xenakis thread for some recommendations after I devoured all of this music. My brain is still recovering from that seething onslaught of brutality that is Jonchaies. 8)