Apr 21
Iannis Xenakis, Diatope (Beaubourg Polytope) (1978), Photo: Pascal Dusapin
seen from Finland
seen from India
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seen from Türkiye
seen from India
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seen from Netherlands
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Iannis Xenakis, Diatope (Beaubourg Polytope) (1978), Photo: Pascal Dusapin
Diamanda Galas called this the most terrifying song she had ever heard. This song uses the UPIC composition system - it essentially translates shapes into sound. The Y axis refers to sound frequency, and the X axis time. Basically, instead of using even a microtonal scale, you have note continuums, which was also used by composers like Ligeti. The result is indeed one of the most terrifying and powerful things I've ever heard - and also stands as excellent visual art too. If you want to compose like this (I myself occasionally use something similar for graphic scores), there is a modern recreation available here. You can even get it for iphone/ipad. I'll likely be using it more as I learn it. Anyway I love Xenakis. And not just because he is one of the greatest and most innovative composers of the 20th century. And not just because I owe so much of what I do to him, especially as he went into outright noise music. And not just the fact the was a fantastic architect. But also the fact he had his face disfigured fighting british imperialism, and was part of the armed resistance against fascism during world war 2.
Fuck yeah comrade.
Iannis Xenakis, Formalized Music
Iannis Xenakis lighting a cigarette for Morton Feldman
dont even really listen to giannis xenakis. i only like him because he has a cool name and aphex twin said i should.
Art, and above all, music has a fundamental function, which is to catalyze the sublimation that it can bring about through all means of expression. It must aim through fixations which are landmarks to draw towards a total exaltation in which the individual mingles, losing his consciousness in a truth immediate, rare, enormous, and perfect. If a work of art succeeds in this undertaking even for a single moment, it attains its goal. This tremendous truth is not made of objects, emotions, or sensations; it is beyond these, as Beethoven's Seventh Symphony is beyond music. This is why art can lead to realms that religion still occupies for some people.
Iannis Xenakis, Formalized Music
#dearcharlesedouard #xenakis #pansdeverreondulatoires https://www.instagram.com/p/CjROO9ZNdzO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=