Ethnic basis of innovations in the piano works by Ioannis Xenakis

Abstract

Relevance of the study: the solo piano works by the Greek – French composer Ioannis Xenakis are investigated as a particular subject for the first time in Ukrainian musicology; it is connected with his 95th birthday anniversary. The musical songs by composer are studied within the context of the development of European music in the second part of the 20th century. The early piano pieces by composer “Six Chanssons” (1950–1951) are also examined for the first time in Ukrainian musicology. Analyze of the solo piano works by I. Xenakis is relevant to the programs of study of the world history of music, music of the 20th century, post-war avant-garde art, history of the piano art.The main objectives of the study: the reasons to choose I. Xenakis heritage is to analyze his avant-garde method of the music composition. The selection of the innovations and specifics of the composition method is investigated within the evolution of his piano works from neo-folklore till avant-garde. The evidences of the composer’s aspiration to the modern abstract method of musical expression which have Greek roots are shown. The changes of the ethnic parameters in his next piano compositions have been exposed. Among them some philosophical roots of the innovative composition method by I. Xenakis are considered proceeding from the fact that he called himself as a Pythagorean composer-innovator of 20th century. Within the analysis of the basic composition structure of the piano piece “Herma” there is exposed proximity of the I. Xenakis to the ideas by ancient Greek philosopher Aristoxenus of Tarentum. We have pointed out his abstract rhythm and rhythm of musical work, a combination of hearing and intelligence for the perception of music which allow making such a conclusion. I. Xenakis’s references to the Ancient Greek mythology is investigated to discover the mythological plot within the analysis of his piano piece “Evryali”. Implementation of scientific ideas and modern technical innovations in music composition are investigated on examples of piano songs “Mists” and “á R.” (“Homage á Ravel”, 1987).The study was done by complex approach, combining the principle of musical-historical comparative analysis based on a set of scientific and philosophical methods.Conclusions: Ethnic basis of the innovations of the piano works by I. Xenakis as well as his impact to the French post-war avant-garde art and international meaning of his heritage are resumed.Significance of the study: the study shows the possibilities for the development of the national music composition at the present stage by enriching it with deep historical traditions. Involvement of informal methods borrowed from the national cultural heritage overcomes the formalism of contemporary compositional techniques.