Four Compositions by the Contemporary Greek Innovator

Iannis Xenakis - Four Compositions by the Contemporary Greek Innovator

Atrees (Hommage a Pascal) for 10 instruments

Performed by Paris Instrumental Ensemble for Contemporary Music, Konstantin Simonovich, conductor

Atrees (Hommage a Pascal) received its first performance in Paris, in 1962. Under the direction of Konstantin Simonovitch who leads the performance heard on this recording. Written for ten instruments, Atrees is in five parts and utilizes the stochastic program of ST/10, an earlier work of Xenakis.
The composition of both pieces required use of the IBM 7090. This particular equipment - developed for the electronic computation of calculus - enabled the composer to establish the timings essential to his musical idea. It also served to advance his thesis and goal of creating ". . . a form of composition which is not the object in itself, but an idea in itself, that is to say, the beginnings of a family of compositions."

Morisma-Amorisma

Performed by Georges Pludermacher - piano; Jean-Claude Bernede - violin; Paul Boufil - cello; Jacques Cazauran - double bass; Konstantin Simonovich, conductor

Again using the program of ST/10, Xenakis composed Morisma-Amorisma for the instrumental combination of piano, violin, cello and double bass. It was first performed in Athens, 1962, under the direction of Lukas Foss. The title is derived from "Moros": meaning fate of death. Morisma refers to that which occurs as an act of fate and Amorisma (with the private a added), signifies that which happens without the interference of fate. "Today," according to Xenakis, "the theory of probabilities refines and clarifies the ancient idea of fate, destiny, choice, causality and determinism."

ST/4

Performed by The Bernede String Quartet (Jean-Claude Bernede & Jacques Prat - violins; Bruno Pasquier - viola; Paul Boufil - cello

ST/4, for string quartet, was also programmed in the manner of ST/10. The complete title, ST/4-1.080262, signifies: ST for stochastic (music), 4-1 for the fact that it is Xenakis' first work for four instruments, and 080262 for the eighth of February, 1962, the date on which calculations were completed on the IBM 7090. As in the case of Nomos Alpha, listeners will note that Xenakis has written for strings in the style which he first introduced in 1954 for Metastasis; primarily featured are such treatments as glissandi with the bow, or in pizzicati, or in col legno, tapping on the back of the instrument. ST/4 was premiered in 1962, by the Bernede String Quartet, in Paris.

Nomos Alpha

Performed by Pierre Penassou - cello

Nomos Alpha is Xenakis' second composition for solo instrument, being preceded by the earlier Herma for solo piano. Radio Bremen commissioned the work for cellist Siegfried Palm, who gave its first performance in 1966. According to the composer, "Nomos" signifies "rules, laws" but also in music, "special, particular melody" and sometimes "mode." Nomos Alpha was written "to render 'hommage' to the lasting work of Aristoxenus of Tarentum (fourth century B.C., student of Aristotle), musician, philosopher and mathematician-founder of the theory of music; to Evariste Galois, mathematician-founder of the theory of groups; and to Felix Klein, his distinguished successor." (Harry Neville)


Note: The first 4 and a half minutes of "Nomos Alpha" has rough crackle that I was unable to get rid of. If I ever find another copy in better shape, I'll re-rip that track.

Tracklisting:

Side One

1. Atrees (Hommage a Pascal): 1st Part {4:29}

2. Atrees (Hommage a Pascal): 3rd Part {5:54}

3. Atrees (Hommage a Pascal): 5th Part {2:21}

4. Atrees (Hommage a Pascal): 2nd Part {1:37}

5. Atrees (Hommage a Pascal): 4th Part {2:54}

6. Morisma-Amorisma {11:38}

Side Two

1. ST/4 {12:56}

2. Nomos Alpha {17:34}

(1)