Among
Iannis Xenakis' most frequently performed and recorded works are his solo percussion pieces,
Pleiades and
Rebonds, which stretch the limits of a performer's dexterity, speed, and stamina. As part of her touring Project IX,
Kuniko Kato has performed
Pleiades in a multimedia presentation with dancer
Megumi Nakamura, and
Rebonds has been a part of her repertoire ever since she became a professional percussionist, so she has a thorough knowledge of
Xenakis' system of notation and methods. This hybrid SACD from
Linn provides the best format for capturing the subtle nuances and timbres of the instruments, which include pitched and unpitched percussion, and the multichannel recording reproduces the wide dynamic range and spatial dimensions of
Kato's performances. Listeners who are coming to
Xenakis for the first time may find the percussion works quite accessible, and they will appreciate the precision and power of
Kato's virtuosic playing. Highly recommended. ~ Blair Sanderson
