Iannis Xenakis (1922, Brăila, Romania – 2001, Paris)
is an architect and composer.
Xenaki’s music is strongly influenced by his interest in mathematical and acoustic principles. Starting in 1954, he developed his own musical style from random phenomena such as rain, a crowd or a swarm of bees: stochastic music. In addition, he tried to implement methods and knowledge of game theory, set theory and number theory in his compositions.
CONCRETE PH (1958, 4-channel, 3min)
a tape composition for the Philips Pavilion at the 1958 World Exhibition in Brussels, as part of a total work of art made up of architecture, light, film and music by the architect Le Corbusier and the composer Edgar Varèse.
The sound material for this consists exclusively of the crackling of glowing charcoal.
source: copy from GRM