Pléïades

Pléïades is a composition for six percussionists composed in 1978 by Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, originally commissioned by the percussion ensemble Les Percussions de Strasbourg.

Title

The title of this work is intentionally ambiguous: on one hand, the term comes from a word meaning "many", and which alludes to all of the instruments used by the six percussionists along the four movements; on the other hand, it refers to a myth in Greek mythology: the Pleiades are the seven daughters of Pleione and Atlas even though the greatest part of his inspiration may come from the astronomy, as the Pleiades were thought to be the stars from Taurus.[1]

Structure and composition

The composition has four movements. Although Xenakis proposed two orders, there are many other recordings with different orders:

  • Order I (Xenakis):
    • I. Mélanges
    • II. Métaux
    • III. Claviers
    • IV. Peaux[2]
  • Order II (Xenakis):
    • I. Métaux
    • II. Claviers
    • III. Peaux
    • IV. Mélanges[2]
  • Order III:
    • I. Métaux
    • II. Claviers
    • III. Mélanges
    • IV. Peaux[3]
  • Order IV:
    • I. Mélanges
    • II. Claviers
    • III. Métaux
    • IV. Peaux[4]

Three of the movements (Métaux, Claviers and Peaux) derive their names from specific instrumental types. In Métaux (French, "Metals"), all of the six instrumentalists play an instrument called sixxen (a blend between "six", named after the six musicians, and "xen", named after Xenakis),[5] which is an instrument Xenakis had constructed specifically for this composition (they were made by the ensemble).[6] The instrument in question consists of nineteen bars, of aluminum[6] or bronze and steel,[5] tuned microtonally (to an unequal 21-note scale built from 1/4 and 1/3 tones),[7] laid out keyboard-style, and it is meant to be played with metal hammers. In Claviers (French: "Keyboards"), Xenakis uses vibraphones, marimbas, xylophones, and xylorimbas. In Peaux (French: "Skins"), only percussion instruments with skins are played (bongos, tom-toms, congas, timpani and bass drums). In Mélanges (French: "Mixture"), the composer uses all of the sounds above mentioned.[1]

Notable recordings

Notable recordings of this composition include:

Ensemble Conductor Record Company Year of Recording Format
Kroumata Percussion Ensemble Anders Loguin BIS 1990 CD[8]
red fish blue fish n/a Mode Records 2006 CD[9]

Notes
  1. First published version by Edition Salabert
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References
  1. Jacobsson, Stig (1990). Booklet of the CD BIS-CD-482 from the catalogue of Naxos. Naxos. pp. 3–4.
  2. James Harley. "Pléïades, for 6 percussionists". AllMusic. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  3. "Tracklist of the CD BIS-CD-482 from the catalogue of Naxos". Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  4. "Tracklist of the CD mode 171–173 from the catalogue of Mode Records". Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  5. Restagno, Enzo (1988). Xenakis (Turin: EDT/Musica), p.246. ISBN 9788870630596. (in Italian)
  6. Percussive Arts Society (2005). Percussive Notes, Volume 43, p.12. Percussive Arts Society.
  7. Hugh Marlais Davies (1986). Echo: the images of sound, p.17. Paul Panhuysen, ed. Apollohuis.
  8. Blair Sanderson. "Xenakis: Pléiades; Psappha". AllMusic. Santa Clara: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  9. Blair Sanderson. "Iannis Xenakis: Percussion Works". AllMusic. Santa Clara: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
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