Persephassa – Modena Contemporanea Festival

Iannis Xenakis
Persephassa, for six percussionist positioned around the audience

Icarus Ensemble
Matteo Rovatti
Martino Mora
Marco Lazzaretti
Francesco Pedrazzini
Gabriele Genta
Koichi Kameo

Icarus vs Muzak

Icarus once again presents one of the most famous pieces for percussion, Persephassa by Yannis Xenakis for six percussionists arranged around the audience. Persephassa was composed by Iannis Xenakis in 1969 on a commission from the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF) and the Shiraz Arts Festival (chaired by the Queen Consort of Persia, Farah Pahlavi), held at the historic site of Persepolis. [The title is one of the variants of the name of the goddess Persephone/Proserpine, and also refers to the names “Perseus,” “Perceval,” and “Persepolis.” It was premiered by Les Percussions de Strasbourg (France), for whom it was written.