The Percussions of Strasbourg

It has been said several times that, thanks to percussion, Xenakis reintroduced the problem of rhythm that was thought to have disappeared from contemporary music. Architect, engineer and composer, this genius of composition writes music whose complex and harmonious structure contrasts with the explosive energy that comes out of it. From Xenakis’ close collaboration with the Percussions de Strasbourg came two fundamental works, ten years apart: Persephassa in 1969 and Pléiades in 1979. The first, working on the spacialization of sound, is a sound choreography. The second is one of the composer’s most beautiful pieces. The richness of the timbres, the freedom and coherence of the composition make this work a unique rhythmic adventure. In 2022, we celebrate the Centenary of the composer as well as the Sixtieth birthday of Les Percussions de Strasbourg.

Pléïades was composed during the 1978-79 period upon the appointment of the city of Strasbourg. The composition was played for the first time by Les Percussions de Strasbourg at a performance staged by Les Ballets du Rhin on May 3, 1979. In 1985, the Makoto Aruga Percussion Ensemble of Japan recorded the music for the first time. Les Percussions de Strasbourg, to which Xenakis dedicated this work, also recorded it in 1986 with the composer in attendance.

Iannis Xenakis - Idmen & Pleiades - Les Pleiades, Choeur Gulbenkian, Sylvio Gualda (1992) {Erato 2292-45771-2}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 279 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 170 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1992 Erato / MusiFrance | 2292-45771-2
Classical / Contemporary / Avant-Garde / Experimental / Choral / Percussion

This cd contains a neglected Xenakis masterpiece, IDMEN A/B (1984), for chorus and percussionSSS. It sustains the typical, classic, Xenakian hallmarks, but comes off as his most breezy, "feel good" piece. Obviously, the delicacy of the writing for multiple percussionists has something to do with it, but also, this is a mighty choral work utilizing all the favorite X tricks. I am really at a loss for words as to it's beauty. The fourth mouvement is the most perfect realization of Xenakis's "pelog" scale (which opens up JONCHAIES), very tropical, with the great Pacific vistas in mind. The percussion mouvements make for interesting comparison to the other piece on the cd.

Pablo Neruda / Mikis Theodorakis - Canto General
Maria Farantouri / Petro Pandis
2xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 448 MB | Artwork: 20 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA # ND 74883 | Country/Year: Germany 1990, 1975
Genre: Classical, Folk, World, & Country, Stage & Screen | Style: Contemporary, Oratorio, Folk

Canto General, an oratorio for two voices, mixed choir and orchestra by Mikis Theodorakis based on poems from Canto General by Pablo Neruda was recorded live on August 13, 1975, at the Karaiskakis-Stadium, Pireus and on August 16, 1975, at the Panathinaikos-Stadium, Athens. The recording was performed by the artists that participated in the 1974 Paris première of the seven movements, that constituted the oratorio at that time. By 1981, Theodorakis had completed the oratorio to its now valid form in 13 movements…

From Strasbourg, France, this band declares influences from RIO artists like Art Bears, Zappa and Henry Cow as well as from Canterburians like Hatfield and the North and Soft Machine. The Loomings are: Maria Denami (vocals), Ludmila Schwartzwalder, (vocals, synth), Benoît Rameau (vocals, sax, synth), Louis Haessler (bass), Enrico Pedicone (Drums and Percussion) and Jacopo Costa (Druns and Percussion). Currently they have a bunch of single tracks on Bandcamp and the first full-length album released in 2015 by AltRock Productions. All the band members are classically trained and have previous collaborations and performances in the classical music world. They have taken part to the innovative music festival in Lainate (Milan) in September 2014.