Biography
Iannis Xenakis (1922–2001) was a Greek composer, architect, mathematician, and engineer who made significant contributions to contemporary music and architecture. He studied engineering in Athens and actively participated in the Greek Resistance during World War II as a member of EAM. During the occupation, he was imprisoned by the Axis forces. In December 1944, he was severely injured by a British tank shell during the clashes in Athens, losing his left eye and suffering permanent facial disfigurement.
In 1947, Xenakis escaped to Paris, where he studied composition under Olivier Messiaen and other distinguished musicians. Xenakis became renowned for incorporating mathematical models, probability theory, and computer technology into his compositions, which often featured highly complex rhythms and innovative sound structures. He also developed his own computer-assisted compositional system, known as UPIC, which allowed music to be created through graphical drawings on a computer screen.
In addition to his musical achievements, Xenakis was an accomplished architect who worked with the celebrated architect Le Corbusier on several important projects. He believed that architecture and music shared common structural principles, and he applied mathematical and scientific concepts to both disciplines. Among his most notable works are Metastasis (1953–54), Pithoprakta (1955–56), Persepolis (1971), and La Légende d'Eer (1977–78). Throughout his career, Xenakis received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy in 1997.
He died in Paris on February 4, 2001.