Pierre Boulez

Pierre Boulez (IPA: /pjɛʁ.buˈlɛz/) (born March 26, 1925) is a conductor and composer of classical music. He was born in Montbrison, France. He initially studied mathematics at Lyon before pursuing music at the Paris Conservatoire under Olivier Messiaen and Andrée Vaurabourg (Arthur Honegger's wife). He went on to write atonal music in a post-Webernian serial style greatly influenced by Messiaen, serialising not only the pitches of notes, but also the durations, dynamics, accents, and so on. He became one of the philosophical leaders of the post-war movement in the arts towards greater abstraction and experimentation.

Related Topics:
IPA - March 26 - 1925 - Conductor - Composer - Classical music - Montbrison - France - Lyon - Paris Conservatoire - Olivier Messiaen - Arthur Honegger's - Atonal - Webernian - Serial

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His works include a number of instrumental and vocal works including Le marteau sans maître for ensemble and voice, Pli selon pli for orchestra and voice and Rituel: In Memoriam Bruno Maderna for orchestra divided into eight groups. Following the lead of figures such as Pierre Schaeffer and Edgar Varèse, he also made pioneering advances in classical electronic music and computer music. One of his major electronic works is Répons, for orchestra and electronics. From the 1950s he experimented with aleatoric music (the use of chance), and struck up a correspondence with John Cage, who was also interested in chance - the two fell out, however, over differing views of what the function of using chance was.

Related Topics:
Le marteau sans maître - Pli selon pli - Pierre Schaeffer - Edgar Varèse - Electronic music - Computer music - 1950s - Aleatoric music - John Cage

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Boulez often returns to works for revision: the last of his three piano sonatas, for instance, is an "open" work that has been in continuous revision since its premiere in 1957 (only two of its five movements have ever been published), and ...explosante-fixe..., effectively a flute concerto with electronics, was first written in the 1970s and completely revised in the 1990s.

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In 1970 president Georges Pompidou asked Boulez to create and direct an institution for the exploration and development of modern music. This became IRCAM. He remained director of the IRCAM until 1992. As of 2004 he still has an office in the IRCAM.

Related Topics:
1970 - President - Georges Pompidou - IRCAM - 1992 - 2004

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From 1976-1995, Boulez held the Chair in "Invention, technique et langage en musique" at the prestigious Collège de France.

Related Topics:
1976 - 1995 - Collège de France

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Boulez is also a noted conductor, especially in ground breaking works from the first half of the 20th century, for example the works of Claude Debussy, Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók, Anton Webern and Edgar Varèse. He has also conducted the works of earlier composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner. He served as the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic from 1971-1977. He is currently the Principal Guest Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Related Topics:
20th century - Claude Debussy - Gustav Mahler - Arnold Schoenberg - Igor Stravinsky - Béla Bartók - Anton Webern - Edgar Varèse - Ludwig van Beethoven - Richard Wagner - New York Philharmonic - 1971 - 1977 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

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In 2002 he was awarded the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize for his contributions. His German lover, Hans Messmer, is traditionally introduced as Boulez's "valet".{{ref|Lebrecht}} Boulez continues to conduct and compose as of 2005.

Related Topics:
2002 - Glenn Gould Prize

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