Electronic Poem (1958)

Poème Électronique is an 8-minute piece of electronic music by composer Edgard Varèse, written for the Philips Pavilion at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. The Philips corporation commissioned Le Corbusier to design the pavilion, which was intended as a showcase of their engineering progress. The pavilion was shaped like a stomach, with a narrow entrance and exit on either side of a large central space. As the audience entered and exited the pavilion, the electronic composition Concret PH by Iannis Xenakis (who also acted as Le Corbusier's architectural assistant for the pavilion's design) was heard. Poème électronique was synchronized to a film of black and white photographs selected by Le Corbusier which touched on vague themes of human existence.

Director: Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 8 min
Release Date:

Screenplay

Music: Edgard Varèse
Country: Belgium
Language: Français
Original Language: fr

Keywords

architecture, art

More Films by Director: Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Electronic Poem about?
Poème Électronique is an 8-minute piece of electronic music by composer Edgard Varèse, written for the Philips Pavilion at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. The Philips corporation commissioned Le Corbusier to design the pavilion, which was intended as a showcase of their engineering progress. The pavilion was shaped like a stomach, with a narrow entrance and exit on either side of a large central space. As the audience entered and exited the pavilion, the electronic composition Concret PH by Iannis Xenakis (who also acted as Le Corbusier's architectural assistant for the pavilion's design) was heard. Poème électronique was synchronized to a film of black and white photographs selected by Le Corbusier which touched on vague themes of human existence.
Who directed Electronic Poem?
Electronic Poem was directed by Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris.
How long is Electronic Poem?
Electronic Poem has a runtime of 8m (8 minutes).
What genre is Electronic Poem?
Electronic Poem is a Documentary film.
Where was Electronic Poem produced?
Electronic Poem was produced in Belgium.