This exercise consists in listening to Aroura (1971) by Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001). The listening brought memories of the soundtrack from Jerry Goldsmith’s (1929-2004) Alien (1979). This appears to be consistent in film music as they often seek inspiration in classical compositions. However, contemporary styles are borrowed in every division of music, for film, theatre etc. Xenakis seems to rely heavily on extended techniques for the whole work. Regarding orchestration, I discern that Xenakis keeps a traditional approach; basses and cello provide strong ground to the music and percussive power, and the violins and viola provide light phrases. The composition retains elements of tonal systems in terms of the relationship between instruments, form and structured rhythmic notation. However, performed with extended techniques.
Orchestration and Arrangement 