# Contemporary Music Research Center

> Greek music research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q64760515](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64760515)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/contemporary-music-research-center

## Summary
The Contemporary Music Research Center (CMRC) is a research institute based in Athens, Greece, established in 1979 and dedicated to the study and promotion of contemporary music. It was founded by key figures in Greek musical modernism, including Iannis Xenakis, Yannis Papaioannou, and Stephanos Vassiliadis. The CMRC functions as a specialized research entity focused on advancing knowledge in the field of contemporary music.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1979
- Located in Athens, Greece
- Founded by Iannis Xenakis, Yannis Papaioannou, and Stephanos Vassiliadis
- Operates as a research institute with the primary mission of advancing contemporary music research
- Formerly headquartered in Cholargos; currently based at the Athens Conservatoire
- Maintains archives at the Athens Conservatoire
- Has a multilingual website available in both Greek and English
- Active on Instagram under the handle `cmrcksyme`
- Connected to the music research community through its SoundCloud presence (`ksyme`)
- Registered in major library and knowledge systems including:
  - GND ID: 1231404035
  - VIAF IDs: 518158790508938850204, 9213161881966434100008
  - Discogs Artist ID: 3891283
  - WorldCat Entities ID: E39QH7Jmp9kmmCBVK6QTKFH8xt
  - National Library of Greece ID: 338382
- Has a presence on Google Maps and is linked to the Google Knowledge Graph via ID `/g/11hytq9rsv`

## FAQs
### What is the Contemporary Music Research Center?
It is a research institute founded in 1979 in Athens, Greece, dedicated to the study and development of contemporary music. It was established by prominent Greek composers including Iannis Xenakis.

### What is its relationship with the Athens Conservatoire?
The CMRC is currently headquartered at the Athens Conservatoire and maintains its archives there, indicating a close institutional and archival relationship.

### What languages is the CMRC's website available in?
The CMRC's website is accessible in both Greek and English, as indicated by language qualifiers on its website metadata.

### Who were the founders of the CMRC?
The institute was founded by Iannis Xenakis, Yannis Papaioannou, and Stephanos Vassiliadis, all significant figures in contemporary music and Greek musical modernism.

### Is the CMRC active on social media?
Yes, it maintains an Instagram account under the handle `cmrcksyme` and has a SoundCloud presence under the ID `ksyme`.

## Why It Matters
The Contemporary Music Research Center plays a critical role in the preservation and advancement of knowledge in contemporary music, particularly within the Greek cultural and academic context. As a specialized research institute, it supports the study and documentation of modern musical practices, bridging the gap between historical and current trends in composition and performance. Its archival and research activities contribute to the global understanding of contemporary music, especially in the field of electroacoustic and experimental music. The CMRC's work is essential in promoting Greek contributions to contemporary music and fostering international dialogue through its digital presence and scholarly output.

## Notable For
- Being founded by internationally recognized composers including Iannis Xenakis
- Maintaining a specialized focus on contemporary music research
- Hosting its archives at the Athens Conservatoire
- Operating as a dedicated research institute distinct from universities or general music institutions
- Being registered in major knowledge systems like WorldCat, VIAF, and Discogs
- Maintaining multilingual digital access through its website and Greek/English metadata
- Hosting a SoundCloud page that supports its digital outreach
- Being registered in the Google Knowledge Graph and maintaining a Google Maps presence

## Body
### Founding and Institutional Identity
The Contemporary Music Research Center (CMRC) was established in 1979 in Athens, Greece. It was founded by key figures in modern Greek music, including Iannis Xenakis, Yannis Papaioannou, and Stephanos Vassiliadis. These individuals were instrumental in shaping its mission as a dedicated research institute for contemporary music.

### Location and Infrastructure
The CMRC was originally headquartered in Cholargos, a municipality in Athens, but relocated its primary base to the Athens Conservatoire in May 2018. It currently maintains its archives at the Athens Conservatoire, indicating a strong institutional tie. The institute's headquarters and archival location are both geographically and symbolically central to its mission.

### Digital and Social Presence
The CMRC maintains a multilingual website in both Greek and English, ensuring accessibility to a diverse audience. It is also active on social media, with a verified presence on Instagram (`cmrcksyme`) and SoundCloud (`ksyme`), which helps promote its research and archival work.

### Research and Archiving
The CMRC functions as a dedicated research institute with a clear mission to study contemporary music. It archives its materials at the Athens Conservatoire, ensuring preservation and access to its research output. The institute's archival efforts are linked to its digital presence, including a detailed description of its archive available in both Greek and English at a dedicated URL.

### Institutional Classification and Recognition
The CMRC is recognized in major library and knowledge systems:
- It is registered under multiple identifiers including:
  - GND ID: 1231404035
  - VIAF IDs: 518158790508938850204 and 9213161881966434100008
  - Discogs Artist ID: 3891283
  - WorldCat Entities ID: E39QH7Jmp9kmmCBVK6QTKFH8xt
  - National Library of Greece ID: 338382
- It is also indexed in the Google Knowledge Graph under the ID `/g/11hytq9rsv` and has a Google Maps customer ID: 1873757523050012098.

### Founders and Historical Context
The CMRC was founded by:
- Iannis Xenakis – a pioneering composer and engineer known for his contributions to electroacoustic and mathematical music.
- Yannis Papaioannou – a significant figure in Greek electronic and experimental music.
- Stephanos Vassiliadis – a composer and academic who contributed to the development of contemporary Greek music.

These founders established the CMRC as a hub for the study and preservation of contemporary music, especially in the Greek context.

### Language and Global Reach
The CMRC's Wikipedia presence is available in both German (de) and Greek (el), indicating its cross-cultural and multilingual reach. Its work is also described in detail at a multilingual archive link, further emphasizing its international relevance.

### Institutional Classification
As a research institute, the CMRC is classified as a dedicated organization focused solely on research, distinct from universities or think tanks. It is recognized across multiple knowledge systems, including:
- Library of Congress (sh85113043)
- German National Library (GND ID 4017909-6)
- Wikidata as a `ResearchOrganization` entity

This classification underscores its role as a standalone research body focused on advancing knowledge in contemporary music.