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Ensemble Intercontemporain

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Ensemble Intercontemporain · The Ensemble intercontemporain, EIC for short, is a French ensemble in Paris devoted to contemporary music. Pierre Boulez founded it in 1976, with the support of the Minister of Culture Michel Guy and in collaboration with Nicholas Snowman. The idea came from Boulez's experiences in the post-war avant-garde at Darmstadt in the 1950s, where he worked with contemporaries such as Stockhausen, Berio, Ligeti and Nono. He missed places where new music could be played and promoted. The EIC consists of thirty-one permanent soloists and works closely with IRCAM, the Parisian institute for acoustic and musical research. Péter Eötvös was the first music director in 1979. Later directors included David Robertson and Jonathan Nott.

Music and breakthrough

The ensemble plays some thirty times a year in Paris and tours in France and beyond. Its repertoire contains more than two thousand contemporary works, from Elliott Carter, Dallapiccola and Berio to the complete works of Boulez, Ligeti, Kurtág and George Benjamin. Much of it has been recorded. The recordings run from Kammermusik in 1978 to releases with Varèse, Ravel and Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht.

Influence

The ensemble often commissions new pieces and works with composers on both creation and performance, because the new playing techniques and notation demand a great deal of coordination. It also gives workshops and masterclasses for young musicians. In this way it has grown into a model for ensembles that give contemporary music a permanent place in concert life.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Varèse's Density 21.5 in the ensemble's recording and notice how a single flute carries the whole piece, from very soft to shrill and high.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists