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Pierre Boulez

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

Pierre Boulez studied with Messiaen in Paris and after the war became the sharpest spokesman of the avant-garde. He extended Webern's serial technique to duration, dynamics and timbre. His Le marteau sans maître of 1955, on poems by René Char, sets an alto voice beside alto flute, viola, guitar, vibraphone and percussion, in a light, sparkling sound. Later he founded the research institute IRCAM and became a celebrated conductor.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the beginning of Le marteau sans maître and hear how alto flute, guitar, vibraphone and percussion exchange short, glittering fragments without a fixed pulse.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

See also