Greece Mourns Xenakis

Iannis Xenakis, a pioneering composer and architect who introduced mathematical and scientific concepts into twentieth-century music, died Sunday in Paris. He was 78. His death comes only two weeks after Aristotelian University in Thessaloniki proclaimed the composer an honorary lecturer, citing his “great contribution to modern Greek culture.”

Born in 1922, Xenakis fought in the Resistance against Nazi occupation, losing an eye in a tank shell explosion. Emigrating to Paris, he spent twelve years assisting Le Corbusier, and helped design the Philips Pavilion at the Brussels World Fair. His experiments with stochastic composition influenced the development of computer music, and his percussion works are among the most important in the genre.

Music Outside Of Time

"I was looking for music that would correspond to my idea about ancient civilization," Xenakis said in a 1980 interview. "I went to the museum and tried to imagine how the statues would move if they suddenly came to life." His music, which he also described as existing outside of time, is demanding. Discordant masses of sound alternate with passages of unexpected lyricism and serenity.

Greek culture minister Evangelos Venizelos eulogized Xenakis as "profound and multifaceted," describing his death as a "great loss." In America, the Greek composer had enjoyed a revival among younger musicians. Ken Durling, a composer living in California, described Xenakis' works as "exciting to perform." His music, Durling said, "encouraged freedom within precision from his players...I think his music, for all its esoteric and intellectual reputation, is great fun to play.”

Xenakis is survived by his wife (author Francoise Xenakis) and their daughter. Plans are underway to fulfill his wish to be buried in the Cyclades.

Athens Stock Exchange Troubles Continue

On February 5th, the Greek daily Ta Nea published a poll which found that eight out of ten Greeks have suffered a total loss of confidence in the Athens Stock Exchange, and believe its troubles will dampen the national economy. Only 13.7% of respondents expressed confidence in the ASE. Most respondents (69.4%) believe the state must intervene immediately, and an even larger percentage (78.8%) hold the government at least partly responsible for the index’s downward turn. Furthermore, 81.5% of those polled also blame investors for sacrificing the exchange’s long-term health in the effort to make a fast buck.

Last week, rumors that international investment firm Morgan Stanley had decided to delay its plans to upgrade the ASE from “emerging” to “developed” status helped worsen pessimism surrounding the exchange. But Morgan Stanley then issued a report expressing cautious optimism, predicting continued foreign investment but also warning that the outlook depends on progress made by the government in opening up Greece’s lopsided public sector and enacting labor reforms.

A Sixteen-Month Decline

The Athens Exchange enjoyed a stunning ride in 1999, with its index reaching a high of over 6,000 points in September of that year. But investors then suffered steep losses as the Exchange entered a sixteenth-month decline, punctuated by short-lived rallies. Last week, a two-day rise in equities proved unsustainable. In January, New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis blamed the PASOK government for the slump, describing it as a “crime” and calling for the Economy Minister’s resignation. But the minister, Yiannos Papantoniou, responded by calling for an end to “political squabbling” and cited government successes over the past five years, such as inclusion in the European Monetary Union (EMU). And Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said that the “climate of suspicion” surrounding the ASE fails to reflect the fundamentally healthy state of the Greek economy.

(Combined Reports)