Xenakis- Achorripsis

[scitsalcoryp]

Is ther something wrong with just enjoying the pure mathethematical insanity of Iannis' mind...when in fact it is not insanity it is sheer genius...and ear candy

[tonychang32000]

amazingly

[John11inch]

OH NO. Someone didn't write music for mister Jesus here! How terrible! Well, because it wasn't written in the "greater glory of God", it must not be music! Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who don't believe in your version of God (98% of Nobel laureates, for instance), so because your reason (which has little to do with actual reasoning, and more to do with that aforementioned idiocy) is based on the subjective choice of faith, your comment is subjective.

[Sveccha93]

@John11inch John, don't waste time on poor souls like that. Thanks for your posts...you introduced me to Xenakis! I've been into modernist/avant garde piano stuff from the early 20th century lately and this was a nice world to stumble upon. Cheers!

[John11inch]

Also, looking through your own uploads, I noticed you attempted to "play" Liszt and Rachmaninov, two composers whose music, for the most part, has absolutely nothing to do with "God", particularly the pieces you botched up. So, can we assume this has more to do with the fact that this music isn't written in some plebeian, pedestrian, philistine manner, is in C Major, and isn't commercial? Is life really so commercial? Is your life really just full of puppies and hugs?

[John11inch]

Doesn't this music actually have so much more to do with what contemporary life really is? Also, speaking of commercial, I couldn't help but notice you wrote a couple pieces, like the "River Star" piece (what a cute title). For anyone interested, it's right here: watch?v=UsIXHjUvdEs

Could you tell me how this is in the vein of the religious, and not in the vein of crappy, 80's romantic drama film music? I mean, good lord. How sappy can you get? Go back to your FLCL and Twilight..

[MrChirpsky]

John11inch, thank you for posting this, but it would be nice if you had also thought to list the ensemble that we're hearing in this version. As I have a rather large (over 10 CD) collection of the great man's music, knowing the performers affords me the opportunity for comparison.

[amontepeluso]

Its really hard to listen to this music... At least, it is for me. The idea in this piece is to bring a image to my mind, like a storm, or Xenakis had another idea? I am very new in this kind of music and I find it hard to understand. Thanks for the music! Bye.

[necrophilissimo]

Interesting; Some portions strongly remind me Don Davis' orchestral score for The Matrix. I know Mr. Davis' work was heavily influenced by modernist composers but I wasn't aware to what degree.

[onclevanja]

I will never drink again

[franzliszt370]

N.B.~ When Xenakis was composing Achorripsis ("Jets of sound"), he specifically set it up so that he could determine the dramatic contrasts holistically -- nothing was left to a tone row or to chance. That might help explain the extraordinary "drive" of this piece...a musical "plot," so to speak.

John11inch, are you sure this performance isn't too fast? I have the score and Xenakis appears to have planned about 7 minutes of music.

[John11inch]

Yes, I believe some of the passages are played a bit faster than the tempo denotes, but you have to bare in mind how difficult Xenakis' works are for orchestra xD Typically, no instrument is doing the same thing, so for the conductor to keep a perfect beat is near-impossible.

[ikryl]

beautiful

[MusicalArmageddon]

@ikryl How exactly?

[John11inch]

In ways you'll never understand, of course!

[ikryl]

@MusicalArmageddon like synaphai (piano and orchestra). it was the right commentary one year ago. and i like it still. ikryl

[p0lyph0ny]

Favorite part: 3:58 - 4:31

Amazing!

[p0lyph0ny]

Thanks for posting this! It's a Xenakis work I hadn't heard before. I'm enjoying it very much...listening to it for the third time now.

[thebloads]

what is the rationale of this piece?

[John11inch]

What do you mean?

[thebloads]

Oh usually they have an underlying idea which sort of justifies the pieces existence.

[John11inch]

What's the "rationale" of Liszt Ballade No. 2?

[thebloads]

I dont mean to be insolent or anything. But is that a question?

[John11inch]

Did it have a question mark?

[thebloads]

ok well i havent heard it before. but obviously someone liked it. so the reason or their liking it is the rationale. i dont like this piece . so i am asking what makes you or anyone else like, or even feel motivated to present it here.

[John11inch]

I'm aware of what you're asking.

But it's a question you're asking only to provoke. If you're looking for an answer beyond personal taste, you won't find one, but I can only assume you know that.

[p0lyph0ny]

Personally, I find the contrast between the more "busy" sections and the quieter sections (with only one or two instruments playing) very effective and compelling; as was the contrast between the percussive sounds of the plucked strings and the continuous sounds of the glissandi...I guess that's why I like listening to it. I also love the various timbres Xenakis superimposes onto each other.

Hope this helps answer your question...reasons for liking a work of art can be very hard to describe!