Rebonds (Xenakis)

Rebonds
by Iannis Xenakis
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 Sylvio Gualda, for whom Xenakis had also dedicated other chamber compositions, such as Komboï.^[1] It was later published by Éditions Salabert, in an edition revised by Patrick Butin.^[2]

Structure

The composition is in two autonomous movements, named A and B, which take up to 12–13 minutes to perform. 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, bass drums, and a set of five wood blocks. 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.^[1]

In Conversations with Iannis Xenakis, Xenakis clarifies that both movements are “to be played as written, at the written tempos, with all the written notes”, which, paradoxically, leads performers to make relatively personal interpretations of the piece, given that several fragments of it are technically nearly impossible to perform.^[3] Some thematic structures were later featured in Okho.

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".^[4]

Notable recordings

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

Percussionist	Record Company	Year of Recording	Format
Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen	BIS Records	2002	CD[5]
Pedro Carneiro	Zig-Zag Territoires	2005	CD[6]
Steven Schick	Mode Records	2006	CD[7]

References

1. Harley, James. "Iannis Xenakis Rebonds, for solo percussion". Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
2. Xenakis, Iannis. Rebonds, for solo percussion. Paris: Editions Salabert.
3. Devenish, Louise. "D.M.A. Recital 5pm, Wednesday 30 May 2012 Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Music Centre" (PDF). Retrieved 20 October 2014.
4. Solomos, Makis (2004). " Psappha, Rebonds, Okho " - Notice du CD Iannis Xenakis, Psappha, Rebonds a et b, Okho (P. Carneiro, M. Rich, J. Gibson percussions) (PDF). Zig Zag Territoires. p. 3. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
5. "Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen Open: Percussion (CD - BIS #1219)". Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
6. "Pedro Carneiro Iannis Xenakis: Psappha; Rebonds A & B; Okho pour trois djembés [DualDisc] (CD - Zig Zag Territoires #ZZT040901)". Rovi corporation. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
7. "Steven Schick Iannis Xenakis: Percussion Works (CD - Mode Records #171)". Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 October 2014.