Four documentaries about avant-garde composer Iannis Xenakis, in collaboration with The Drawing Center, for their exhibition Iannis Xenakis: Composer, Architect, Visionary, on display from Jan 15 – Apr 8, 2010.

Part I - 7:00pm:
Something Rich and Strange
A documentary about the life and music of Iannis Xenakis illustrated by musical performances of Metastaseis, Perssephassa, Eonta, Cendrees, Polytope of Cluny, Pithoprakta, Returns-Windungen, Terretektorh, Oresteia and Keqrops.
Written and directed by Mark Kidel. 1990. France. 59 min.

Orient-Occident: Images d'une Exposition (1960), commissioned by UNESCO uses the sounds of bowed boxes, bells and metal rods, sounds from the ionosphere and a speed-altered excerpt from Xenakis' orchestral work Pitoprakta. Frames and commentary underline the similarity of profile, smiles and attitude of the various statuettes exhibited. Directed by Enrico Fulchignon. 1960. Greece. 25 min.

Part II - 9:00pm:
Charisma X – Iannis Xenakis
Featuring interviews of Françoise Xenakis, Mâkhi Xenakis, Georges Aperghis, Curtis Roads, François-Bernard Mâche, Sharon Kanach, Makis Solomos, Gérard Pape, Elisabeth Chojnacka, Giorgos Koumendakis and Roviros Manthoulis. In this documentary about the life and work of Iannis Xenakis, the filmmaker presents excerpts of Xenakis’ musical compositions, his architectural work, interviews with Xenakis and archive material from Oresteia and Polytopes, the grand spectacles of sound and light, as well as specially commissioned performances of Nomos, Alpha, Charisma, Naama and Keren at Delphoi, La Tourette Convent and Xenakis’ home in Paris. Written and directed by Efi Xirou. 2009. Greece. 64 min.

La Légende d'Eer
La Légende d'Eer is a powerful 7-channel electro-acoustic composition which Xenakis created in 1977-78 to be played in Le Diatope, a curvaceous architectural construction designed by the composer, together with a visual component including laser lights. This multimedia work was composed for the opening of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, where it was performed for three months and seen by thousands of people. The DVD also contains a 67-minute video conversation of Xenakis with musicologist Harry Halbreich, two essays by Makis Solomos and Bruno Rastoin and a film created by Bruno Rastoin which is a series of 350 images of Xenakis' score for La Légende, diagrams of Le Diatope and photographs of the original performance. Directed by Gerard Pape.  1977-78. France. 47 min.
Orient-Occident