IANNIS XENAKIS
“PERSEPHASSA”
Sketch for Persephassa by Iannis Xenakis
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PROGRAM:
Iannis XENAKIS – REBONDS (1987-89) [13']
Iannis XENAKIS - PSAPPHA (1976) [15']
Iannis XENAKIS – CONCRET PH (1958) [3']
Iannis XENAKIS – PERSEPHASSA (1969) [28']
PERFORMERS:
Steven SCHICK, solo percussion
red fish blue fish, percussion ensemble
Iannis XENAKIS – REBONDS (1987-89) [13']
Iannis XENAKIS - PSAPPHA (1976) [15']
Iannis XENAKIS – CONCRET PH (1958) [3']
Iannis XENAKIS – PERSEPHASSA (1969) [28']
PERFORMERS:
Steven SCHICK, solo percussion
red fish blue fish, percussion ensemble
ARTIST BIOS:
IANNIS XENAKIS:
Iannis Xenakis (May 29th 1922 - February 4th 2001) was a Romanian-born Greek ethnic, naturalized French composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer. He is commonly recognized as one of the most important post-war avant-garde composers. Xenakis pioneered the use of mathematical models in music such as applications of set theory, stochastic processes and game theory and was also an important influence on the development of electronic music.
Among his most important works are Metastaseis (1953-4) for orchestra, which introduced independent parts for every musician of the orchestra; percussion works such as Persephassa (1969), Psappha (1975) and Pleiades (1979); compositions that introduced spatialization by dispersing musicians among the audience, such as Terretektorh (1966); electronic works created using Xenakis's UPIC system; and the massive multimedia performances Xenakis called polytopes. Among the numerous theoretical writings he authored, the book Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Composition (1971) is regarded as one of his most important. As an architect, Xenakis is primarily known for his early work under Le Corbusier: the Sainte Marie de La Tourette, on which the two architects collaborated, and the Philips Pavilion at Expo 58, which Xenakis designed alone.
Among his most important works are Metastaseis (1953-4) for orchestra, which introduced independent parts for every musician of the orchestra; percussion works such as Persephassa (1969), Psappha (1975) and Pleiades (1979); compositions that introduced spatialization by dispersing musicians among the audience, such as Terretektorh (1966); electronic works created using Xenakis's UPIC system; and the massive multimedia performances Xenakis called polytopes. Among the numerous theoretical writings he authored, the book Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Composition (1971) is regarded as one of his most important. As an architect, Xenakis is primarily known for his early work under Le Corbusier: the Sainte Marie de La Tourette, on which the two architects collaborated, and the Philips Pavilion at Expo 58, which Xenakis designed alone.
Steven Schick in his office at UC - San Diego. Photo by John Francis Peters (New York Times).
STEVEN SCHICK:
Percussionist, conductor, and author Steven Schick was born in Iowa and raised in a farming family. Hailed by Alex Ross in the New Yorker as, “one of our supreme living virtuosos, not just of percussion but of any instrument,” he has championed contemporary percussion music for more than fifty years. In 2014 Schick was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
As conductor, Schick was Music Director of the La Jolla Symphony and Artistic Director of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and the Breckenridge Music Festival, and Co-Artistic Director with Claire Chase of the Banff Centre’s Summer Classical Music program. In 2020, he was awarded the Ditson Conductor’s Award, given by Columbia University, for his commitment to the performance of American music.
Schick’s publications include a book, “The Percussionist’s Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams,” and numerous recordings including complete collections of the percussion music of Iannis Xenakis and the early percussion works of Karlheinz Stockhausen. His most recent project, “Weather Systems,” a multi-part retrospective of solo percussion music released on Islandia Music Records, was listed among the best recordings of 2023 by both The New York Times and The New Yorker.
In 2019, he and his wife Brenda began The Brenda and Steven Schick Commissions to foster new creative work that embraces qualities of optimism in themes dealing with community or the environment.
Steven Schick is Distinguished Professor of Music and the inaugural holder of the Reed Family Presidential Chair at the University of California, San Diego.
As conductor, Schick was Music Director of the La Jolla Symphony and Artistic Director of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and the Breckenridge Music Festival, and Co-Artistic Director with Claire Chase of the Banff Centre’s Summer Classical Music program. In 2020, he was awarded the Ditson Conductor’s Award, given by Columbia University, for his commitment to the performance of American music.
Schick’s publications include a book, “The Percussionist’s Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams,” and numerous recordings including complete collections of the percussion music of Iannis Xenakis and the early percussion works of Karlheinz Stockhausen. His most recent project, “Weather Systems,” a multi-part retrospective of solo percussion music released on Islandia Music Records, was listed among the best recordings of 2023 by both The New York Times and The New Yorker.
In 2019, he and his wife Brenda began The Brenda and Steven Schick Commissions to foster new creative work that embraces qualities of optimism in themes dealing with community or the environment.
Steven Schick is Distinguished Professor of Music and the inaugural holder of the Reed Family Presidential Chair at the University of California, San Diego.
RED FISH BLUE FISH:
The New York Times calls red fish blue fish a “dynamic percussion ensemble from the University of California.” Founded more than 25 years ago by Steven Schick, the San Diego-based ensemble performs, records, and premieres works from the last 85 years of western percussion’s rich history. The group works regularly with living composers from every continent. Recent projects include the world premiere of Roger Reynolds’ Sanctuary and the American premiere of James Dillon’s epic Nine Rivers cycle with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). In the Summer of 2011, red fish blue fish collaborated with George Crumb, Dawn Upshaw and Peter Sellars to premiere the staged version of The Winds of Destiny. Eighth Blackbird invited red fish blue fish to join them in performances of works by American icons John Cage and Steve Reich at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. The New York Times called their “riveting” John Cage performance the “highlight” of the program. In 2012 red fish blue fish presented four concerts of percussion music alongside Percussion Group Cincinnati at the John Cage Centennial Festival in Washington, D.C., where they performed highlights from Cage’s collection of percussion works.
Recordings of the percussion chamber music of Iannis Xenakis and Roger Reynolds on Mode Records have been praised by critics around the world. Their recording of the early percussion works of Karlheinz Stockhausen received Deutscheschallplattenkritikpreis for the best recording of contemporary music in 2015.
red fish blue fish has had impact on new music percussion both by virtue of their many performances and acclaimed recordings, but also through their commitment to research and pedagogy as a resident ensemble at the University of California, San Diego. The numerous alumni of red fish blue fish now hold major teaching and artistic positions throughout the world.
Recordings of the percussion chamber music of Iannis Xenakis and Roger Reynolds on Mode Records have been praised by critics around the world. Their recording of the early percussion works of Karlheinz Stockhausen received Deutscheschallplattenkritikpreis for the best recording of contemporary music in 2015.
red fish blue fish has had impact on new music percussion both by virtue of their many performances and acclaimed recordings, but also through their commitment to research and pedagogy as a resident ensemble at the University of California, San Diego. The numerous alumni of red fish blue fish now hold major teaching and artistic positions throughout the world.