Iannis Xenakis

Greek-French Avant-Garde Composer and Architect

Iannis Xenakis (1922–2001) was a Greek-French composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in late 20th-century music. His pioneering work in the field of electronic music, computer music, and algorithmic composition has had a significant impact on the development of contemporary classical music. Xenakis was known for his use of mathematical models in music such as set theory, stochastic processes, and game theory, which he integrated with his architectural background to create compositions that often resembled complex soundscapes or sonic architectures.