Aroura
by Iannis Xenakis
Xenakis, around the time of this composition
Composed1971 (1971)
Performed24 August 1971 (1971-08-24): Lucerne
Scoring12 strings or string orchestra

Aroura is a composition for strings by Greek/French composer Iannis Xenakis. It was composed in 1971.

Composition

The title of this composition should be translated as "Earth".[1] It was first performed on 24 August 1971, at the Lucerne Festival. It was premiered by Rudolf Baumgartner with the festival's Lucerne Festival Strings. It was published shortly after by Éditions Salabert.[2]

Structure

The piece is in only one movement and takes around 12 minutes to perform. It is scored for four first violins, three second violins, two violas, two cellos and one double bass, even though it is clarified by Xenakis that it can also be performed by a larger string orchestra or ensemble. Aroura makes an extensive use of glissandos, jagged chords, sound clusters and other techniques exploited in avant-garde movements.[1]

The piece has a tempo of 𝅗𝅥 = 60 (which means two beats per second). The register of the piece ranges from a C1 (played by the double bass) to D8, played by one of the first violins. First and second violins rarely play unison, but each of the violinist has their own line. Xenakis uses graphic notation up to six times in the score, the first one being the opening of the composition.[3]

Recordings

References

  1. 1 2 Simeone, Nigel (2013). Iannis Xenakis - Synaphaï (Liner Notes of Decca 478 5430). London: Decca Music Group Limited. p. 4.
  2. ↑ "Aroura". iannis-xenakis.com. Les Amis de Xenakis. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Meza Ramírez, Sinuhé Fernando (June 23, 2013). "Aroura" – Iannis Xenakis Graficación y Análisis. Morelia: Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo. pp. 2–6.
  4. ↑ "Xenakis: Synaphaï Aroura, for string ensemble". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Xenakis: Synaphai; Aroura; Antikhthon Aroura, for string ensemble". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Xenakis: Music for Strings Aroura, for string ensemble". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hello I'm Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop Aroura, for string ensemble". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
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