Pierre Boulez is among the most influential contemporary musicians, both as a composer and as a conductor. He is known principally for his extension of the techiques of serialism beyond the limits of the Second Viennese School of Schoenberg, under the strong influence of his teacher Messiaen, into a logical style that brings with it a paradoxical freedom. His career as a conductor has brought him engagements with the most famous orchestras in a relatively wide repertoire, from Rameau to Wagner and to the contemporary.
Piano Music
The music Boulez has written for piano includes three sonatas, the last involving an element of chance in the possible choices of order offered to performers. The first part of Structures I, for two pianos, was first performed by Messiaen with the composer in 1952 and Structures II by Yvonne Loriod and Boulez at Donaueschingen in 1961.
Instrumental Music
The compositions of Boulez include works for various groups of instruments. Le marteau sans maître is scored for flute, guitar, vibraphone, xylorimba, percussion and viola, and Improvisation sur Mallarmé I for soprano, harp, tubular bells, vibraphone, four percussion, while Improvisations II adds celesta and piano. Improvisation sur Mallarmé III is for soprano and orchestra. The choice of instruments here, as in Eclats and other works is seemingly eclectic, certainly unusual, but logical in its relation to the music, much of which remains open to further development.
