Xénakis: Synaphaï (1969)/ H.Ooï(p), M.Inoue(dir) 1/2

Iannis XENAKIS: Synaphaï, pour piano et 86 musiciens(1969)
Hiroaki OOI (pianist), Michiyoshi INOUE (conductor)
Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, 1996 Live recording

2/2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6YpYKPcEBQ

Category:

Music

Tags:

• iannis
• xenakis
• piano
• concerto
• hiroaki
• ooi
• michiyoshi
• inoue
• kyoto

[MarkGrindell]

I encountered this on the Decca Headline series when I was 17 and never bothered with rock music after that, ever again. This absolutely thrilled me to bits. AT the time I was also listening to Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Spohr, and Lutoslawski.

I got into trouble for listening to all of this by my Mom, who was under the influence of a very religious group in Calderdale who thought that all of this was of the devil; Beethoven especially, as he was a pagan!

I always wanted to se this performed.

[iransoto]

..is music made by Hal 3000

[wetuadjlv]

@paradox56533 There are a few good explanations of his music online. The one I especially like is "The Limits of Logic: Structure and Aesthetics in Xenakis's Herma." Basically, I think with this piece especially he was going for a new way of listening to music, which obviously never quite caught on with everyone.

[wetuadjlv]

@ukdavepianoman True, even Beethoven's performances fell apart or were utter failures from time to time! And can you then even imagine trying to organize this?

[ukdavepianoman]

@KhagarBalugrak That's very funny. You been taking writing lessons from Ferneyhough?!

[KhagarBalugrak]

I love how the dodecaphonic synthesis of platitudinal melismatic prognostics deliquesces into cacophonic, hexagonical necrophilia and semantic antiphony. Indeed, the protoplasmic reticular epicycles that occur throughout this serious, serious work of art music gradually yet subtly amplify the peripatetic tetrichordal necrosis, resulting in a plethora of new and exciting musical textures.

Or maybe this piece just sucks ass.

[ukdavepianoman]

Heard this piece for 1st time in live performance with Geoffrey D Madge playing piano part and I HATED it. I'm well used to late 20th century music but it sounded like an assault on my eardrums. Being in 2nd row didn't help.

Now I hear THIS performance and it's like listening to a different piece altogether. The orchestra are better balanced, the piano playing is completely accurate and very crisp. The whole piece makes sense now.

Just shows never judge a piece on one performance!

[paradox56533]

im not quite sure what to make of this piece. i wont insult it nor will i compliment it being as though im not quite sure what the composers intentions were of writing this.

[MarkGrindell]

That phase of life in Calderdale was actually rather temporary. 1979? long ago now. I remember it though. The church elders got more abrasive (not less) when I disposed of the Frank Zappa, Allman Brothers, etc. It just gave them more license to have a go at everything else; so naturally, I had to get rid of Chopin, Berlioz, Beethoven, etc. All works of the devil.

Yeah, I know, but at least I got out! And I kept more of it, including the Xenakis (and Berio) than they ever knew. Great stuff.

[grandexandi]

@MarkGrindell wow, i could imagine religious mothers worrying about their kids listening to the rolling stones (or any other rock band) or madonna (or any other openly sexual pop artist), but i never thought there were mothers worried about their kids listening to beethoven...!

[3xpr1ment]

@KhagarBalugrak "music like this has been proven, in scientific experiments, to be harmful to living things". Reference please.

[KhagarBalugrak]

@3xpr1ment, well, what I'm really pointing out is that music like this has been proven, in scientific experiments, to be harmful to living things. It's sad but true, and what is disturbing is that unless you write music like this, almost no music school will ever accept you into their composition programs.

It's very sad that classical music has degenerated into music like this. It just further lowers intellectuals in the eyes of the general population.