Customer Reviews

Xenakis: Ensemble Music 1

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I found this recording to be fairly good with the exception of Robert McEwan's performance of Rebonds. Having performed the work myself, I feel compelled to comment on his realization. There are a number of incorrect rhythms in part A. It's remarkable that this slipped by without notice. I'm sure McEwan is an excellent percussionist, so I have no idea why he plays some of the things that he does. The biggest offender is his 2 against 3 feel. This is a fairly simple and straightforward polyrhythm common to most all musicians. The 2 against 3 figure is prominent in the first two pages of the work and each time, it is inexplicably rendered incorrect. I've compared it four other recordings, the score, and my own performance none of which make this same mistake.

Aside from some rhythmical errors are the tempos. Yes, this is a very difficult work, but the tempos are definitely on the slow side. Compare this with one of Steven Schick's many recordings and this will sound positively lethargic. If you're looking for an excellent performance of Rebonds, look no further than Schick's CD, Drumming in the Dark or the forthcoming Complete Percussion Music of Iannis Xenakis, also by Schick.

I'm saying this mostly for the percussionist who is looking for a good recording of Rebonds to use as a reference. Don't make the same mistake I did by purchasing this for Rebonds alone. The rest of the works are interesting, but not among my favorite Xenakis chamber music. Plekto is the highlight here rendered with power and precision. Eonta is definitely a good performance, but again, not one of my favorite works.

My rating in no way reflects my opinions on Xenakis. I think he's one of the most important composers of the twentieth century and I jump at the chance to perform his music every chance I get. Enjoy the ensemble works, but don't buy this for the Rebonds performance.

Am I a fan of Xenakis' music? I guess not, if I have to judge by this CD. Eonta is the only piece on this recording that really merits careful study, and while this performance may (not sure about this) be more accurate than the legendary Takahashi/Simonovic on Chant du Monde, it has none of that performance's wild excitement. Also, the recording is too distant to do the work justice. For my money, most of Xenakis' great music dates from the 60's. That generation of European composers grabbed hold of the zeitgeist of that moment and created a huge body of masterpieces. When they retreated into their individual ateliers, they seem to have lost whatever burning spirit it was that compelled them to challenge and transform musical language. The quasi-"folklorical" moments in these later pieces sound embarrasingly naive - moreso for thinking themselves so sophisticated. They bring to mind some kind of arty travelogue. You're better off getting some Ocora CD's. Lastly, the performers are technically excellent but don't approach this work with the proper gravitas. Everything sounds a little ridiculous and not quite committed enough. They've learned their parts but haven't thought enough about the "why?" of this music. Xenakis' music. even at less than its best, has something obsessional about it. And these performers seem just a little too chilled out.