Xenakis

Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001) was a Greek-French composer, music theorist, architect, and engineer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important post-World War II composers, particularly known for his pioneering use of mathematical models in musical composition, including applications of set theory, stochastic processes, game theory, and Boolean algebra.

Xenakis studied mathematics and engineering at the National Technical University of Athens during the Greek Resistance in World War II, experiences which heavily influenced his later artistic and philosophical outlook. Following the war, he moved to Paris and worked as an architect in Le Corbusier's studio, contributing significantly to projects like the Philips Pavilion at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair and the monastery of Sainte Marie de La Tourette.

Xenakis's musical output is characterized by its radical experimentation and exploration of sound masses, density, and timbre. He sought to create music that was "objective" and independent of subjective expression, using mathematical systems to generate musical structures. Prominent examples of his compositional techniques include stochastic music (e.g., Pithoprakta), set theory-based music (e.g., Herma), and the application of game theory (e.g., Duel, Stratégie). He also developed innovative methods for spatializing sound, notably through the use of his "Polytopes," large-scale multimedia performances involving light, sound, and architecture.

In addition to his compositions, Xenakis was an influential theorist who wrote extensively about his musical ideas and compositional processes. His writings, such as "Formalized Music," laid the groundwork for a new understanding of music as a formal system that could be explored through mathematical and computational means. Xenakis’s legacy continues to inspire composers and artists working in diverse fields, demonstrating the enduring impact of his innovative approach to music and its relationship to mathematics, technology, and architecture.