Iannis Xenakis – tribute with two concerts of acousmatic music 11.11.2023
Tribute to Iannis Xenakis
Two concerts of acousmatic* music at NOESIS Planetarium
The School of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki organizes two electronic music concerts on Saturday 11 November 2023, at 17.00 and 20.00 at NOESIS.
The concerts take place within the framework of the 4th international composition competition Iannis Xenakis, which is a reference point in the global electroacoustic community and this year attracted a total of 222 entries from 40 countries, with acousmatic music works of extremely high artistic level.
Iannis Xenakis’ innovative ideas, which are a constant source of inspiration for composers of the younger generation, are reflected in most of the works that will be played. This year, the presentation of the works will take place at the NOESIS Planetarium (capacity of 150 people). This excellent room, combined with the three-dimensional diffusion of sound will give an absolutely magical experience to the audience that will be there.
In the first concert the audience will have the opportunity to hear works by the members of the jury of the competition, Jonty Harrison, Elsa Justel, Panayiotis Kokoras, Robert Normandeau and Luis Quintana, while in the second concert the works that have been distinguished in the competition by Cameron Naylor (United Kingdom), Zach Thomas (United States), Robert McClure (United States), Edmar Soria (Mexico) will be presented. Ian Whillock (United States), Todor Todoroff (Belgium). The president of the jury, Jonty Harrison, will be in Thessaloniki for the announcement of the awards. For more information click here.
Between the two concerts, at 18.30, at NOESIS Amphitheater, there will be a presentation of Elizabeth Kiourtsoglou’s book entitled ” Iannis Xenakis – On rhythm in architecture“ followed by a short discussion.
Entrance to the concerts is free with priority vouchers distributed from 16.00 on that day by the NOESIS Fund. No voucher is required to enter the book presentation.
Media communication:
Dimitris Maronidis, telephone 6976 306063
Contact for the event:
Elizabeth Constantinou, telephone: 2310 483 000, extension 105
(Monday to Friday, 8.00-14.30)
* Acousmatic music is a form of music composed specifically to be performed in a concert by speakers. In the case of this concert in particular, by an array of 8 independent speakers placed around the audience. The core of acousmatic music is the placing of sound at the absolute centre of public attention; a sound that is heard but not seen.
Traditional musical parameters, such as melody, harmony, rhythm, are present in this music, but very often special emphasis is placed on additional features such as timbre, spectrum and overall musical texture. Composition materials can include sounds coming from musical instruments, voices, electronic circuits, but also any possible sound of the physical or digital sound world. Acousmatic music is produced with the help of musical technologies, such as digital recorders, digital signal processing tools, digital audio workstations, or analog media such as modular synthesizers, tape recorders or turntables.
The origin of the term acousmatic music can be traced back to Pythagoras who is believed to have taught his students behind a screen so as not to let his presence distract them from the content of his lectures. Just as the circle of disciples of Pythagoras heard the teacher speak behind a veil, in a similar way one hears acousmatic music behind an ideal “veil of loudspeakers, without seeing the source of each sound.
Those who attend the two unique concerts organized by the School of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at NOESIS, will be invited to interact with sound, based not on its source, but on its enigmatic composition, its absolute sonic quality and its diffusion in space. Removing all visual reference will force you to do what the originator of this music, Pierre Schaeffer, used to call écoute réduite (minimized listening). The obfuscation of the identity of sounds, especially in an amazing environment like that of NOESIS Planetarium, will lead you to an unlimited journey into the realm of sounds.