Iannis Xenakis's Persepolis

Iannis Xenakis' Persepolis was a polarizing symbolic paean to Persian history at the 1971 Shiraz Arts Festival. This book tells the story of his early history, involvement in the Resistance against the Axis occupation of Greece during the Second World War, escape and re-settlement in Paris, work as an architect with Le Corbusier, and distinct views on world history and politics that led to his 1972 electro-acoustic album.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Iannis Xenakis' Persepolis stands as a remarkable witness to one of the most pivotal events in modern human history, the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Its existence is a testament to an invitation he received to participate in the 1971 Shiraz Arts Festival, overseen by Empress Farah Pahlavi. Like the Festival and the extravagant celebratory party held the same year, Xenakis' symbolic paean to Persian history elicited polarizing reactions. While some embraced it with enthusiasm, others vehemently detested it. Persepolis, an overwhelming yet nuanced and precise composition, defied conventional categorization, leaving both listeners and critics perplexed. This book delves into the early chapters of Xenakis' life, encompassing his involvement in the Resistance against the Axis occupation of Greece during the Second World War, his escape and re-settlement in Paris, his collaboration with Le Corbusier as an architect, and his distinct perspectives on world history and politics that ultimately shaped his 1972 electro-acoustic album, Persepolis.

Iannis Xenakis' Persepolis stands as a remarkable witness to one of the most pivotal events in modern human history, the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Its existence is a testament to an invitation he received to participate in the 1971 Shiraz Arts Festival, overseen by Empress Farah Pahlavi. Like the Festival and the extravagant celebratory party held the same year, Xenakis' symbolic paean to Persian history elicited polarizing reactions. While some embraced it with enthusiasm, others vehemently detested it. Persepolis, an overwhelming yet nuanced and precise composition, defied conventional categorization, leaving both listeners and critics perplexed. This book delves into the early chapters of Xenakis' life, encompassing his involvement in the Resistance against the Axis occupation of Greece during the Second World War, his escape and re-settlement in Paris, his collaboration with Le Corbusier as an architect, and his distinct perspectives on world history and politics that ultimately shaped his 1972 electro-acoustic album, Persepolis.

Weight: 174g
Dimension: 127 x 198 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501381508