Pytheas Center for Contemporary Music

• Home
• About
• Resources
• Composers
• Performances
• 20/21 Ensemble
• Contact Us

Search Pytheas   use Pytheas SiteSearch   need help searching?

Pierre Boulez (1925-    )

Pierre Boulez , French composer, conductor, and music theorist, is regarded as a leading composer of the post-Webern serialist movement who also embraced elements of aleatory and electronics. As a child Boulez demonstrated a formidable aptitude in mathematics, but left for Paris in 1942 to enroll in the Paris Conservatoire. His studies there often ran into difficulties, as he was rapidly developing revolutionary -- "Praise be to amnesia" -- attitudes towards all things traditional. But two decisive influences during those years helped to shape his musical personality. The first was Messiaen's famous analysis course, the other was René Leibowitz, who introduced him to serial music, where Boulez found "a harmonic and contrapuntal richness and a capacity for development an extension of a kind I have never found anywhere else." By the late 1940s, Boulez began using a technique known as total serialization. A work which soon gave Boulez public notice was his Second Piano Sonata (1948), following a much publicized concert in Darmstadt in 1952 by Yvonne Loriod, Messiaen's wife. The piece from the 1950s that sealed his reputation was Le Marteau sans Maître (1954; revised 1955), for singer and chamber ensemble. The instrumentation gives prominence to exotic percussion, extended vocal techniques, and textures that are often brittle but also lyrical. Rigorously organized, Le Marteau nonetheless goes beyond strict serialism to a more personal style. The premiere took place in Germany in 1955 under Hans Rosbaud. The Südwestfunk Radio underwrote an astounding 50 rehearsals in order that the piece be properly performed. During the latter 1950s he began allowing greater freedom for the performer in works like Improvisations sur Mallarmé for soprano and chamber ensemble. In his Third Piano Sonata (1957), the pianist can reorder the five movements in a variety of ways, and certain passages within the movements offer alternate paths, thereby making the artist select which to play and which to omit. In 1957, Boulez embarked on Pli Selon Pli, a work in five movements for soprano and orchestra to texts by Mallarmé, making use of a more restrained open-form technique. Boulez is also known for withdrawing and rewriting his compositions, making nearly everything he writes "a work in progress." For instance, ...explosante-fixe..., first sketched in 1971 has engendered a number of works and transitory phases over approximately twenty five years, including a 1996 version for solo MIDI flute and chamber ensemble. In 2000, he also received the prestigious Grawemeyer Award in Composition for his forty minute chamber piece Sur Incises. Boulez is also one of the twentieth century's most influential conductors, known for extraordinarily precise performances of contemporary works by Bartok, Ligeti, Messiaen, and Varése, among many others. In 1968 he was named Music Director of both the BBC Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. In 1969, the Cleveland Orchestra named him Principal Guest Conductor. In 1970 French President Pompidou announced the experimental electronic music institute, Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM) to be under Boulez's administration, eventually causing him to withdraw from the BBC and New York posts. In 1975, he formed the Ensemble Inter Contemporain, an ensemble devoted entirely to the performance of new music. He was also appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1995.

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Boulez Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Boulez on Boulez
Douze notations, piano (1945) [expanded and reworked for orchestra, 1978- ]
Trois psalmodies, piano (1945, withdrawn)
Variations, piano, left hand (1945, withdrawn)
Quatuor pour quatre Ondes Martenot (1945-46, withdrawn)
Piano Sonata No. 1 (1946)
Sonatine, flute and piano (1946)
Le visage nuptial, soprano, mezzo-soprano, chorus and orchestra (1946; rev. 1951; rev. 1988-89)
Symphonie concertante, piano and orchestra (1947, lost)
Piano Sonata No. 2 (1948)
Sonata for Two Pianos (1948, withdrawn) [revision of "Quatuor pour quatre Ondes Martenot"]
Livre pour quatuor, string quartet (1948) [2 mvts reworked for string orchestra as "Livre pour cordes", 1968; rev. 1989]
Le soleil des eaux, soprano, chorus and orchestra (1948; rev. 1950; rev. 1958; rev. 1965)
Polyphonie X, chamber ensemble (1950-51, withdrawn)
Deux études, musique concrète (1951-52)
Structures I, 2 pianos (1951-52)
Oubli signal lapidé, 12 solo voices (1952, withdrawn)
Le marteau sans maître, alto voice and 6 instruments (1953-55; rev. 1957)
La symphonie mécanique, musique concrète (1955) [for film by Jean Mitry]
L'Orestie, incidental music, voice and chamber ensemble (1945)??? [for Aeschylus' trilogy "Oresteia"]
Poésie pour pouvoir, tape and 3 orchestras (1955/58, withdrawn)
Piano Sonata No. 3 (1955-57/63, unfinished)
Strophes, flute (1957, unfinished)
Le crépuscule de Yang Koueï-Fei, incidental music, musique concrète (1957) [for the radiophonic play by Louise Fauré]
Pli selon pli, soprano and orchestra (1957-58)
    - Improvisations sur Mallarmé 1-2 (1959-62; rev. 1983; rev. 1989)
Structures II, 2 pianos (1961)
Figures-doubles-prismes, orchestra (1957-58)
    - Doubles, orchestra (1964; rev. 1968)
Éclat, chamber ensemble (1965)
Éclat/multiples (1970, unfinished) ["Éclat" (1965),  followed by a longer piece for a larger ensemble]
Domaines, clarinet (1968)
Domaines, clarinet and 6 instrumental groups (1968)
Improvisé—pour le Dr. K, flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello (1969; rev. 2005)
Über das, über ein verschwindelaren, chorus (1969)
Cummings ist der Dichter, chorus and chamber ensemble (1970; rev. 1986)
"...explosante-fixe...", flute, clarinet and trumpet (1971-72)
    "...explosante-fixe...", flute, clarinet, trumpet, harp, vibraphone, violin, viola, cello and electronics (1973-74)
Rituel - in memoriam Bruno Maderna, orchestra in 8 groups (1974)
Ainsi parla Zarathoustra, incidental music, voice and chamber ensemble (1974)
Messagesquisse, solo cello and 6 cellos (1976)
Notations, orchestra (1978-    )
Répons, 2 pianos, harp, vibraphone, xylophone, cimbalom, ensemble and live electronics (1980; rev. & expanded 1982, 1984)
Dérive 1, 6 instruments (1984)
Dialogue de l'ombre double, clarinet, piano resonance and tape (1984)
Mémoriale ("...explosante-fixe..." originel), flute and chamber ensemble (1985) [arr. of central section from "...explosante-fixe..."]
    - "...explosante-fixe..." (1986) [version for vibraphone and electronics]
Initiale, brass ensemble (1987)
Dérive 2, 11 instruments (1988; rev. 2002; expanded and completed 2006)
Anthèmes, violin (1991; rev. and expanded 1994)
"...explosante-fixe...", solo MIDI flute, 2 "shadow" flutes, chamber orchestra and electronics (1991- 93)
    - 3 of 9 projected movements
Incises, piano (1994; rev. and expanded 2001)
Anthèmes 2, violin and live electronics (1997)
Sur incises, 3 pianos, 3 harps and 3 percussionists (1996-98)
Une page d’éphéméride, piano (2005)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Boulez Links    ~ ~ ~    Boulez on Boulez      ~ top of page ~
Orchestra
Douze notations, piano (1945) [expanded and reworked for orchestra, 1978- ]
Livre pour quatuor, string quartet (1948) [2 mvts reworked for string orchestra as "Livre pour cordes", 1968; rev. 1989]
Poésie pour pouvoir, tape and 3 orchestras (1955/58, withdrawn)
Figures-doubles-prismes, orchestra (1957-58)
    - Doubles, orchestra (1964; rev. 1968)
Rituel - in memoriam Bruno Maderna, orchestra in 8 groups (1974)
Notations, orchestra (1978-    )

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Ensemble
Symphonie concertante, piano and orchestra (1947, lost)
Domaines, clarinet and 6 instrumental groups (1968) [also for solo clarinet]
Messagesquisse, solo cello and 6 cellos (1976)
Mémoriale ("...explosante-fixe..." originel), flute and chamber ensemble (1985) [arr. of central section from "...explosante-fixe..."]
"...explosante-fixe...", solo MIDI flute, 2 "shadow" flutes, chamber orchestra and electronics (1991- 93)
    - 3 of 9 projected movements

Chorus w/Orchestra
Le visage nuptial, soprano, mezzo-soprano, chorus and orchestra (1946; rev. 1951; rev. 1988-89)
Le soleil des eaux, soprano, chorus and orchestra (1948; rev. 1950; rev. 1958; rev. 1965)

Choral
Oubli signal lapidé, 12 solo voices (1952, withdrawn)
Über das, über ein verschwindelaren, chorus (1969)
Cummings ist der Dichter, chorus and chamber ensemble (1970; rev. 1986)

Chamber
Livre pour quatuor, string quartet (1948) [2 mvts reworked for string orchestra as "Livre pour cordes", 1968; rev. 1989]
Polyphonie X, chamber ensemble (1950-51, withdrawn)
Éclat, chamber ensemble (1965)
Éclat/multiples (1970, unfinished) ["Éclat" (1965),  followed by a longer piece for a larger ensemble]
Domaines, clarinet (1968) [also for solo clarinet and 6 instrumental groups]
Improvisé—pour le Dr. K, flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello (1969; rev. 2005)
"...explosante-fixe...", flute, clarinet and trumpet (1971-72)
    "...explosante-fixe...", flute, clarinet, trumpet, harp, vibraphone, violin, viola, cello and electronics (1973-74)
Messagesquisse, solo cello and 6 cellos (1976)
Répons, 2 pianos, harp, vibraphone, xylophone, cimbalom, ensemble and live electronics (1980; rev. & expanded 1982, 1984)
Dérive 1, 6 instruments (1984)
Dialogue de l'ombre double, clarinet, piano resonance and tape (1984)
Mémoriale ("...explosante-fixe..." originel), flute and chamber ensemble (1985) [arr. of central section from "...explosante-fixe..."]
    - "...explosante-fixe..." (1986) [version for vibraphone and electronics]
Initiale, brass ensemble (1987)
Dérive 2, 11 instruments (1988; rev. 2002; expanded and completed 2006)
Sur incises, 3 pianos, 3 harps and 3 percussionists (1996-98)

Instrument and Piano
Sonatine, flute and piano (1946)

Solo Instrument
Quatuor pour quatre Ondes Martenot (1945-46, withdrawn)
Strophes, flute (1957, unfinished)
Domaines, clarinet (1968) [also for solo clarinet and 6 instrumental groups]
"...explosante-fixe..." (1986) [version for vibraphone and electronics]
Anthèmes, violin (1991; rev. and expanded 1994)
Anthèmes 2, violin and live electronics (1997)

Piano
Douze notations, piano (1945) [expanded and reworked for orchestra, 1978- ]
Trois psalmodies, piano (1945, withdrawn)
Variations, piano, left hand (1945, withdrawn)
Piano Sonata No. 1 (1946)
Piano Sonata No. 2 (1948)
Sonata for Two Pianos (1948, withdrawn) [revision of "Quatuor pour quatre Ondes Martenot"]
Structures I, 2 pianos (1951-52)
Piano Sonata No. 3 (1955-57/63, unfinished)
Structures II, 2 pianos (1961)
Incises, piano (1994; rev. and expanded 2001)
Une page d’éphéméride, piano (2005)

Vocal
Le visage nuptial, soprano, mezzo-soprano, chorus and orchestra (1946; rev. 1951; rev. 1988-89)
Le soleil des eaux, soprano, chorus and orchestra (1948; rev. 1950; rev. 1958; rev. 1965)
Oubli signal lapidé, 12 solo voices (1952, withdrawn)
Le marteau sans maître, alto voice and 6 instruments (1953-55; rev. 1957)
L'Orestie, incidental music, voice and chamber ensemble (1945)??? [for Aeschylus' trilogy "Oresteia"]
Pli selon pli, soprano and orchestra (1957-58)
    - Improvisations sur Mallarmé 1-2 (1959-62; rev. 1983; rev. 1989)
Ainsi parla Zarathoustra, incidental music, voice and chamber ensemble (1974)

Incidental/Film
La symphonie mécanique, musique concrète (1955) [for film by Jean Mitry]
L'Orestie, incidental music, voice and chamber ensemble (1945)??? [for Aeschylus' trilogy "Oresteia"]
Le crépuscule de Yang Koueï-Fei, incidental music, musique concrète (1957) [for the radiophonic play by Louise Fauré]
Ainsi parla Zarathoustra, incidental music, voice and chamber ensemble (1974)

Electronic
Deux études, musique concrète (1951-52)
La symphonie mécanique, musique concrète (1955) [for film by Jean Mitry]
Poésie pour pouvoir, tape and 3 orchestras (1955/58, withdrawn)
Le crépuscule de Yang Koueï-Fei, incidental music, musique concrète (1957) [for the radiophonic play by Louise Fauré]
"...explosante-fixe...", flute, clarinet, trumpet, harp, vibraphone, violin, viola, cello and electronics (1973-74)
Répons, 2 pianos, harp, vibraphone, xylophone, cimbalom, ensemble and live electronics (1980; rev. & expanded 1982, 1984)
Dialogue de l'ombre double, clarinet, piano resonance and tape (1984)
"...explosante-fixe...", solo MIDI flute, 2 "shadow" flutes, chamber orchestra and electronics (1991- 93)
    - 3 of 9 projected movements
Anthèmes 2, violin and live electronics (1997)


BOULEZ  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Boulez on Boulez       ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Pierre Boulez (Dominique Jameux)  & Pierre Boulez: A World of Harmony (Lev Koblyakov) - Book Reviews
Pierre Boulez: A Work in Progress at 85 (Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times)
Pierre Boulez: A World of Harmony (Lev Koblyakov, Psychology Pr, books.google.com)
Pierre Boulez: 'I Was a Bully, I’m Not Ashamed' (The Telegraph)
Pierre Boulez: Ray of light or Lord of the Dark Side? Discuss (The Independent)
Unreconstructed Modernist (David Schiff, The Atlantic)

Composer website (@ Universal Edition)    . . .   contact Pierre Boulez:  here

Boulez @ Wikipedia
Boulez @ Answers.com
Boulez @ Art + Culture
Boulez @ Classical Archives
Boulez @ Classical Composers Database
Boulez @ Classical Net
Boulez @ ClassicsToday
Boulez @ Columbia University/Miller Theatre
Boulez @ composition:today
Boulez @ Deceptively Simple/My Pierre Project
Boulez @ Deutsche Grammaphon
Boulez @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Boulez @ Ensemble Sospeso
Boulez @ Facebook
Boulez @ Grawemeyer Awards
Boulez @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Boulez @ InstantEncore
Boulez @ IRCAM (in French)
Boulez @ Karadar Classical Music/ http://www.karadar.com/index.php/en/composers-biographies.html
Boulez @ Lucerne Festival
Boulez @ Medieval Music & Arts Foundation
Boulez @ The Music Chamber
Boulez @ Modern Classical
Boulez @ The Modern Word
Boulez @ MSN Music
Boulez @ Music Academy Online
Boulez @ MusicWeb International
Boulez @ MySpaceMusic
Boulez @ Naxos
Boulez @ The New York Times
Boulez @ NNDB
Boulez @ W.W. Norton
Boulez @ NPRmusic
Boulez @ The Pierre Boulez Project/Josh Ronsen
Boulez @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Boulez @ Universal Edition

http://www.musicsage.org

Publisher
Boulez @ Composer's website/publisher listings
Boulez @ Alphonse Leduc
Boulez @ Boosey & Hawkes
Boulez @ Chester Novello
Boulez @ Carl Fischer
Boulez @ Oxford University Press
Boulez @ Peermusic
Boulez @ Edition Peters
Boulez @ Theodore Presser
Boulez @ G. Schirmer
Boulez @ Schott Music
Boulez @ Universal Edition

Streaming Audio
Boulez @ Composer website (@ Universal Edition)
Boulez @ Classical Archives
Boulez @ last.fm
Boulez @ MySpaceMusic
Boulez @ W.W. Norton
Boulez @ NPRmusic
Boulez @ Rhapsody.com
Boulez @ SoundCloud

Recordings
Boulez @ ArkivMusic
Boulez @ CD Universe
Boulez @ ClassicsOnline
Boulez @ Deutsche Grammaphon
Boulez @ Discogs

Video
Boulez @ YouTube
Boulez @ Google Video
Boulez @ Vimeo

                                                                                                                                                                                         ~ top of page ~
Boulez on Boulez: Interview (VIDEO)







Boulez on Boulez: Columbia University Roundtable (VIDEO)







Boulez on Boulez: Message from The 2009 Kyoto Prize (VIDEO)







Boulez on Boulez: Pierre Boulez in Conversation with Emmanuel Pahud  (VIDEO)







Boulez on Boulez: On His Music (VIDEO)







Boulez on Boulez: On John Cage (VIDEO)







Boulez on Boulez:  la Mémoire du Collège de France/in French (VIDEO)








Also, listen to Boulez discuss:
    Gustav Mahler
    Frank Zappa
    Bela Bartok: Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Interviews:  part 1    part 2    part 3    part 4    part 5    part 6    part 7
    Lucerne Contemporary Music Festival