Pierre-Boulez

French Composers’ Names – Pierre Boulez

Bank holiday here in the US today (Columbus Day) so you will get two MP3s for the price of one. This week’s installment in our French Composers’ Names series is Pierre Boulez. Our London contributor, Steven Berryman, recently reviewed a concert at Southbank Centre and I figured it was high time to feature Mr. Boulez on this blog. I’m sure he’s thrilled.

Boulez’ name is pretty easy to pronounce (I don’t think I’ve ever heard anybody butchering his name in the US): the ou is a [oo] sound and, for once, the final consonant IS pronounced. Here we go:

Link to MP3 — ICIYL – Pierre Boulez | Get Pierre Boulez scores!

Finally, here is a HD excerpt of this piece performed by Emmanuel Pahud, Marion Ralincourt, and Sophie Cherrier (even though it is written for two flutes?), conducted by Boulez himself:

Pierre Boulez: …explosante-fixe… for flute with live-electronics, two flutes and ensemble
Emmanuel Pahud, flute · Marion Ralincourt, flute · Sophie Cherrier, flute
Members of the IRCAM Paris, sound direction
Pierre Boulez, conductor
Berliner Philharmoniker / Recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie, 18 September 2010

Check out the entire French Composers’ Names series or suggest one we haven’t covered on Twitter at @icareifulisten.