Yannis (Iannis) Xenakis

Iannis Xenakis was born of Greek parentage. In 1947 Xenakis went to France and studied architecture with Le Corbusier. He also studied composition at the Ecole Normale in Paris with Arthur Honegger and Darius Milhaud, and at the conservatory with Olivier Messiaen. In 1958, he assisted Le Corbusier in the construction of the Philips Pavillon at the Brussels World Fair, where he met Edgard Varese. Xenakis was inspired by Varese’s interest in composition with sound masses and the application of scientific principles to music composition. Xenakis continued his collaboration with Le Corbusier from 1947 to 1958 and later founded the School of Mathematical and Automated Music in Paris in 1966. He has taught there and at Indian University. Xenakis has worked with computers and mathematics including probability, set theory, calcullus, and game theory and has produced a large and signifant body of works for solo instruments, ensembles, orchestra, chorus, and works for tape, as well as several polytopes: sonic and light installations. His ideas on mathematics and music are published in his book «Musique Formelles.» His works include «Metastasis» for orchestra, «Pithoprakta» for orchestra, «Strategie», Game for orchestras, «Akrata» for sixteen winds, «Terretektorh,» and other works for orchestra scattered among the audience (including «Polytope,» and «Nomos Gamma»), «Eonto» for piano and brass, and «ST/4» for string quartet.

(Source: booklet «Electroacoustic Music: Classics,» Neuma 1990)