Iannis Xenakis

Iannis Xenakis' oeuvre is unique in modern music-it is music of great visceral power, energy and sheer sound. Music from another world. Music that grabs the listener, riveting his attention. Conductor Charles Zachary Bornstein is a Xenakis specialist. Bornstein learned that of the 700 to 800 performances of Xenakis' music worldwide each year, only a handful were in America. He formed New York's ST-X Ensemble (named after Xenakis' series of ST- compositions from the 1960s) in 1994 to fill the void.

Mode Records also fills a void with the first release in a new series with Bornstein and the ST-X Ensemble of Xenakis' ensemble works.

This program includes all of Xenakis' works for ensemble and voice-a varied recital spanning many periods of Xenakis' compositional style. The revolutionary Eonta is like no music before or since: cascading notes like falling stars together with waves of sound from the brass. Akanthos is full of primeval mystery. Rebonds an incredible crowd-pleaser for virtuoso solo percussion. N'Shima a ritual of chanting voices (singing Hebrew syllables) against a backdrop of roaring brass and solo cello. Finally, the most recent work of Xenakis to be recorded, Plektó, also receives its first recording.

Recorded in concert, capturing the virtuosity of the ensemble and its conductor, this recording transmits the tremendous raw energy and excitement of Xenakis's music performed live.

Plektó (1993) for ensemble (first recording)
Eonta (1962-64) for piano solo, 2 trumpets and 3 trombones
Akanthos (1977) for soprano and ensemble
Rebonds (1987-89) for percussion solo
N’Shima (1975) for 2 amplified peasant voices, 2 amplified horns, 2 trombones and amplified cello

ST-X Ensemble, Charles Zachary Bornstein, conductor
Justin Rubin, piano
Susan May, soprano
Robert McEwan, percussion
Catherine Aks and April Lindevold, voices