Electronic Poem

synopsis

Electronic Poem is a remnant of a visual-acoustic immersive event that took place in the pavilion designed by Iannis Xenakis for the 1958 World Expo in Brussels. Le Corbusier, who was approached by Philips, invited Edgar Varèse to join the project; his electroacoustic composition was played from 400 loudspeakers and accompanied by projections of images selected by Le Corbusier.

“The synthesis of art and the latest achievements of science and technology confronts you with the genesis of the earth and the creatures that populate her. It contrasts the playing child with suffering Man, the imminent forces of destruction with the constructive powers of the inspired human mind.”

Source: Martin Flašar: Le Corbusier, E. Varèse, I. Xenakis: Poème électronique (1958). Fakta, kontexty, interpretace (dissertation), Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2009, s. 10.

biography

Edgar Varèse (1883–1965) was a progressive composer and a major pioneer of electronic and experimental music in the 20th century. He developed spatiality in his musical collages and compositions. He integrated electronic sounds, noises and acoustic instruments. He was at the forefront of both artistic and technological development.

more about film

director:

Edgard Varèse