This is Xenakis’ graph of the opening glissandi in Metastasis (composed in 1953-4 for orchestra). A high resolution version of this image can be found at Xenakis: His Life in Music along with an audio exerpt. Xenakis’ scoring style used mathematical techniques to add to the grammars of formal composition. The graphic, pianoroll interface will be familiar to anyone who has used computer sequencing software.

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