RE: [microsound] Re: intelligence is in the ear of the beholder

["Paulo Mouat" <microsound@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

[on intelligence]
> there might be many misunderstandings... but that's part of=20
> the game and at times makes an individual feel unique.=20

Another quote, hopefully to explain Xenakis' position more clearly, and =
how
'intelligence' in his sense is much more subjective, intuitive and not =
at
all arrogant than what a first, too-literal reading may give:

BAV: You have written a good deal about the significance of =
intelligence.
In your opinion, music is simply the expression of intelligence through
sounds.  You also said once, in an interview, that for you intelligence =
is
everywhere.  Have you consciously studied your own?

IX: No, no - I have no intelligence, that's why I'm looking for it.  At =
any
rate, I don't have as much of it as I would like.

BAV: Perhaps it's that dissatisfaction that urges you on.

IX: Perhaps.  It's something organic, something you can't decide - it =
comes
from you.

(Balint Andras Varga, "Conversations with Iannis Xenakis", Faber and =
Faber,
1996, from '11. On immortality, intelligence, concentration and other
subjects', page 128)

BAV: Figuratively speaking, when you are composing you lower a bucket =
into
the well of your ideas.  Aren't you afraid the well may one day go dry?

IX: That happens every day.  Is it worthwhile, what I'm doing?  Will I =
make
the right decisions?  How do I know the answer to that?  These are =
questions
that I keep asking myself.=20

BAV: You told me earlier that your ideas emerge from your unconscious =
and
that you have to decide if they're interesting or not.  If they are, you
keep them; if not, you push them right back where they came from.  But =
what
happens if the ideas stop coming?

IX: Look.  I made decisions in the past because I thought at the time =
they
were necessary.  I wasn't convinced they were new.  This is again =
something
you can't control:  whether something is worthwhile or not.  You must
nevertheless go on working.  This lack of stability is in fact one of =
the
interesting aspects of composing [laughs].

(ibid. from '9. The composer in society', pages 212-3)

Cheers,
//paulo

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