Xenakis' Evryali

[darth tutifruti]

I read the Opinions on Hardest Piece Ever thread, and now I want to hear the song. Does anyone happens to have it, or know where I can listen to at least a fragment of it?

[JCarey]

First of all, it's not a song. I just thought I'd warn you about that, because some people on this forum get quite annoyed. So, I've uploaded it on to my webspace. Anybody interested in hearing it can hear it right here.

Frankly, I don't really like it the much, and have a hard time believing that it could possibly be harder than a massive piece like the OC... but it is quite an interesting work, and at times it is beautiful as well. However, it will definitely not be in my list of top 10 favorite pieces any time soon.

Regards,
John Carey

[stevie]

im also interested in hearing this song.

can someone describe the techniques used in this piece, and for that matter, the song 'herma' by the same compsoer


i would appreciate seeing the sheets for these pieces especially

[JCarey]

im also interested in hearing this song.

can someone describe the techniques used in this piece, and for that matter, the song 'herma' by the same compsoer


i would appreciate seeing the sheets for these pieces especially

You do realize that I just posted a link to a recording of it, don't you?

[stevie]

btw - xenakis was an architect and applied some of his architectural princaples to his songs, that might explain why they dont sound as hard as the bumblebee song.

also, he was a pupil of messiaen, he came to messian professing that he has little knowledge of music and that he felt embarrased by this, messiaen said 'no, dont be! an unspoilt mind like yours could produce some of the most original music ever composed!'

very interested to finally see the music if its possible

[stevie]

You do realize that I just posted a link to a recording of it, don't you?

yes, thanks, but do you have the sheets?

[prometheus]

I read Xenakis wanted to express mathematical ideas through music but in a way that would not be a description of the math idea in the language of music. But a 'pure' translation of the math idea into organised sound. And since 'organised sound' is the definition of music.

I heard Xenakis was on a team that worked on some major buildings. I think in France and Belgium.

Since this guy seems to ignore everything that other people already did in music I can't say I really care for it.

[stevie]

for some reason i like parts of it, and some of it reminds me of ligeti.

[JCarey]

yes, thanks, but do you have the sheets?

No, I don't, sorry. You should ask Skeptopotamus. He has them. He tried to send them to me a few days ago, but it failed for some reason.

[darth tutifruti]

Um, I get a 404 with that link

[JCarey]

Um, I get a 404 with that link

Fixed.

[darth tutifruti]

Thank you very much! Well, it sure sounds strange, but I liked it more than I thought I would. 

[Nightscape]

I have heard a lot about this piece, a lot of good, a lot of bad, and now I finally have a chance to hear it.  Honestly, I expected more from this piece.  Of course, Xenakis might not have meant for this to be some great masterwork.  If this isn't one of Xenakis's major works, then I take my statement back.  But seriously, there just isn't enough real contrast in this piece for me to consider it a major work, or even a work deserving the title of most difficult.  There was nothing here that was "too dissonant" for my ears, but still Xenakis seemed to be speeding over color after color, and rarely took time to explore the beauties of these sonorities (something that say Webern did with similar sonorities).  But like I said, if Xenakis is trying to portray a musical piece from a one-dimensional view, then he suceeded.... however if this is meant to be a great work (which I suspect it is) then it doesn't work.  There are other works of similar style (but not as hard) that manage this better, among them Copland's Piano Fantasy or various works by Ligeti.  For example in the Copland piece, the listener is invited to indulge in countless soundscapes, many of which defy simple description.... in emotional terms, it takes you from serene calm to a torrent of chaos throughout the piece, and does it in a way that seems and feels natural.  In this Xenakis piece, I couldn't help but notice a certain uniformity of harmony, melody, rhythm, tone color (with a few exceptions of course) which quickly left me bored and cold.

I don't think there is anything wrong with composing in such a difficult, dissonant, even mathmatical style.  If you want to apply principles of architecture to music, then be my guest, I think that's a great idea.  But this piece just isn't a skyscraper in the musical repetoire, in my opinion.

[etudes]

Thanks alot John Carey
for all stuff!
(cant send you pm i dont know why)

[ahinton]

btw - xenakis was an architect and applied some of his architectural princaples to his songs, that might explain why they dont sound as hard as the bumblebee song.

also, he was a pupil of messiaen, he came to messian professing that he has little knowledge of music and that he felt embarrased by this, messiaen said 'no, dont be! an unspoilt mind like yours could produce some of the most original music ever composed!'

very interested to finally see the music if its possible

And Messiaen wasn't wrong!

Best,

Alistair

[prometheus]

Whoa!

I thought Messiaen was refuted.

[I Love Xenakis]

This is the worst recording of Evryali (1973) I've ever heard.


Would someone please upload the Aki Takahashi?  i can't at the moment since I'm not on my computer x.x