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4.0 out of 5 stars
An exceptional Jonchaies, but the rest is less essential, Dec 11 2003
This is the second volume in Timpani's ongoing series of the orchestral works of Iannis Xenakis. This volume contains four works, all single movements lasting about a quarter of an hour, from the period between 1971 and 1983.The outstanding work on the disc comes first. Jonchaies, written in 1977, rapidly became a favourite amongst Xenakis fans for its incessant energy, dramatic orchestral colours and pounding rhythms. The dramatic power of this work never ceases for a moment, from the massed strings at the opening that trigger off rhythmic eruptions and step-like melodies to the metallic sounds of the close where piccolos and tuned percussion fade into the distance. This is a cracking performance and recording, comfortably superior to the rival performance on Col Legno. Sadly the rest of the disc is not up to the standard of Jonchaies, though none of the works is a dud. Shaar is a 1983 work for massed strings that takes small musical ideas and extends them into great masses, while Lichens (written in the same year) is a rather uneven creation, despite some excellent percussive passages. Antikhthon, written in 1971 and the earliest of the works here, is probably the most complex--I found that its abrasive surface and apparently arbitrary structure does cohere better after several listens. Xenakis' music may still be primarily the property of admirers of modern atonality, but I think that works like Jonchaies (which have an immediate, visceral appeal) will make it into the mainstream repertory eventually. It would also not surprise me if Jonchaies and similar works brought inquisitive rock fans to an appreciation of contemporary classical music.
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