ICE/Xenakis

When I first heard Xenakis, I didn’t like it very much.  It took repeated listenings over a number of years coupled with an accumulated exposure to strange music before I came to appreciate and eventually enjoy Iannis Xenakis’ music.  His vision is incredibly strong, and I agree with Steve Schick’s comment that Xenakis “hits you where it counts.”  However, this comment is precisely what made me think about the previous idea of exposure in considering the present-day props or lack of props credited to a composer.  How widespread is the appreciation for Xenakis’ music? Although I don’t believe that someone requires a Bachelor’s
or Master’s in Music to appreciate Xenakis, I do think that repeated exposure to a particular composer’s music is key to enjoying it; Xenakis’ music puts
this demand to the listener.  I realize that ICE’s contribution to this goal is part of a larger shape of events, and hopefully these concerts will not be the first
but will be the third or fourth time people are hearing Xenakis, and thereby increasing the chance of survival for this great music.