Rebonds (Xenakis) Explained

Rebonds
Border:yes
Composer:Iannis Xenakis
Period:Contemporary music
Composed:1987–1989
Dedication:Silvio Gualda
Duration:12 minutes
Scoring:Percussion

Rebonds is a composition for solo percussion by Greek composer Iannis Xenakis. It was composed between 1987 and 1989 and, together with Psappha, is one of the two compositions for solo percussion by Xenakis.

Composition

Rebonds was written for percussionist, for whom Xenakis had also dedicated other chamber compositions, such as Komboï. It was later published by Éditions Salabert, in an edition revised by Patrick Butin.[1]

Many different elements of this piece, such as the ideas of indeterminancy, and the fact that the piece sounds as if more than one person is playing, creates a new sound for solo percussionists.

Structure

The composition is in two autonomous movements, named A and B. The first movement uses only skins, with two bongos, three tom-toms, and two bass drums. The second movement, however, uses two bongos, one tumba, one tom-tom, one bass drum, and a set of five wood blocks or wooden slats. According to Xenakis, the order of the composition is not fixed: either first A, then B, or vice versa, but both movements should be performed attacca.[2]

Reception

Rebonds has been very well received by critics and musicians. Jacques Longchamp called it an "immense abstract ritual, a suite of movements and of hammerings without any folkloristic "contamination", pure music full of marvellously efflorescent rhythms, going beyond drama and tempest. A new masterpiece".[3]

Notable recordings

The following is a list of notable performances of this composition:

PercussionistRecord CompanyYear of RecordingFormat
Hans-Kristian Kjos SørensenBIS Records2002CD[4]
Pedro CarneiroZig-Zag Territoires2005CD[5]
Steven SchickMode Records2006CD[6]
Roland AuzetMode Records2008DVD

Notes and References

  1. Book: Xenakis. Iannis. Rebonds, for solo percussion. Editions Salabert. Paris.
  2. Web site: Harley. James. Iannis Xenakis Rebonds, for solo percussion. Rovi Corporation. 20 October 2014.
  3. Book: Solomos. Makis. Makis Solomos . " Psappha, Rebonds, Okho " – Notice du CD Iannis Xenakis, Psappha, Rebonds a et b, Okho (P. Carneiro, M. Rich, J. Gibson percussions). 2004. Zig Zag Territoires. 3. 21 October 2014.
  4. Web site: Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen Open: Percussion (CD – BIS #1219). Rovi Corporation. 21 October 2014.
  5. Web site: Pedro Carneiro Iannis Xenakis: Psappha; Rebonds A & B; Okho pour trois djembés [DualDisc] (CD – Zig Zag Territoires #ZZT040901)]. Rovi corporation. 21 October 2014.
  6. Web site: Steven Schick Iannis Xenakis: Percussion Works (CD – Mode Records #171). Rovi Corporation. 21 October 2014.