Blog
11.02.2023
Great Music Composers Project : IANNIS XENAKIS -YEAR 5 @ Athens Concert Hall

In the project of getting acquainted with great music composers, the year 5 students visited the Athens Concert Hall music library on Friday, 3/2. They had a unique opportunity to meet pleasantly and interactively one of the most influential composers of the 20th century, Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001), who experimented with computers many years before children discovered them! The programme included a treasure hunt in the Library, a narration with slides and music, and games about Xenakis’ life and works. It concluded the composition the children made using the composition programme UPISketch, developed by the Iannis Xenakis centre in collaboration with the European University of Cyprus.

This activity is part of ‘Meta-Xenakis’ in the context of the international celebration of the 100 years since the birth of Iannis Xenakis.

Iannis Xenakis was a Greek-French composer and architect. He is considered one of the most important 20th-century composers, combining traditional and modern elements. He is best known for his groundbreaking compositions for electronic instruments and his use of mathematics and musical architecture.

Born in 1922 in Romania, Xenakis was forced to flee with his family from the Nazis during World War II. He eventually settled in Paris, where he studied engineering and architecture. He was particularly interested in the mathematical principles behind structures and eventually began to apply these principles to his compositions. He developed his unique style of composition, which blended traditional music with modern techniques and technology.

Xenakis was a prolific composer and his works have been performed throughout the world. He was the first composer to use computers to create music and wrote influential essays on musical composition. His influence on modern musical composition is undeniable, and his works continue to inspire composers today. He passed away in 2001, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and creative genius.

 

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