Ikeda came to international renown with his kaleidoscopic sound sculptures, in which electronics and new technologies play key roles. With mathematical precision, he artfully orchestrates sound, images and physical phenomena into performances and installations. With these experiences as a starting point, Ikeda has now accepted the challenge of transferring his working methods to purely acoustic compositions which he is writing especially for Ensemble Modern.

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Ryoji Ikeda: music for strings

Barbican Centre

Commencing with music for percussion 1, commissioned by Eklekto Ensemble Geneva in 2016. Body Music features the hands and the legs of two percussionists engaging a virtuosic counterpoint of "body claps". Metal Music I is a duet and uses of one of the most iconic orchestral percussion instruments, the triangle. Metal Music II brings onstage two sets of crotales - small bronze discs played with violin bows to create a polyphony of sinus-like high frequencies. Metal Music III, a piece featuring 4 percussionists evolving in a landscape-like installation of 12 suspended cymbals, closes the first part. The second part presents pieces for three performers, from music for percussion 2 that use nonmusical objects.

Ryoji Ikeda: music for percussion 1 & 2

Japan’s leading electronic composer and visual artist Ryoji Ikeda focuses on the essential characteristics of sound itself and that of visuals as light by means of both mathematical precision and mathematical aesthetics. Ikeda elaborately orchestrates sound, visuals, materials, physical phenomena and mathematical notions into immersive live performances and installations.

Ryoji Ikeda

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 20, 2026

Ryoji Ikeda: music for strings · Barbican Centre

Feb 21, 2026

Ryoji Ikeda: music for percussion 1 & 2 · Barbican Centre

Feb 21, 2026

Ryoji Ikeda: music for choir · Barbican Centre

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