Iannis Xenakis' Artistic Aesthetic and Public Perception

Question

Did Iannis Xenakis write any music with intentions beyond absolute music? For example, music paired with other forms of art?

For example, Terretektorh (diagram pictured below) illustrates that Xenakis indicates for the piece to be played within and amongst the audience. Would anyone be able to elaborate on this piece or suggest any others? Here is a performance of Terretektorh.

Since everyone can perceive music differently, my question is not only about how musicians interpret a composer's intentions, but also how composers expect the public to perceive their work.

It would be helpful is someone could provide any specific stylistic ideas Xenakis had about his (or some of his) music.

EDIT: The question is intended to make emphasis in Xenakis' expectations as how the public consumes some of his compositions. In Terrektorh he expects the public to be around the musicians but ultimately it can be seen as a request for the musicians to be inside the public. Incidentally the public will be around the musicians. I would be interested to see if he made some demands or suggestions that are specific to how the public should consume some music of his. A ridiculous example: Ask the public to listen to this music while taking breakfast, or something like that.

Another request he could have made that is not very specific to the musicians performing the piece is if Xenakis asks certain composition to be listened while looking at certain painting, or some sculpture, any other form of art going beyond the music. It might probably be interesting if examples are given from other composers but I was interested specifically if Xenakis did this sort of requests.

Answer 1

Did Xenakis compose music intended for settings where other art forms were an integral part? Certainly. Look up Polytope de Cluny and Persépolis for a start (8 track electroacoustic works with light show).

The question of his intentions is thorny and I do not wish to speculate about them. However, you can find in Formalized Music a description of Duel, a kind of game where two conductors compete against one another. Is that a concept beyond absolute music? Probably one can argue that it is.

Xenakis' famous description of a political demonstration with a crowd shouting slogans, ending with a brutal confrontation, which you can find in the first pages of Formalized Music, clearly relates to his use of stochastic principles of organization in his compositions. Does that make them program music? Not necessarily.