Canon
Where to start with Boulez
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
VocalLe marteau sans maître, for alto, alto flute, guitar, vibes, xylorimba, percussion and viola
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ChamberMessagesquisse, for solo cello and 6 cellos
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KeyboardPiano Sonata no. 3
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OrchestralRèpons, for 2 pianos, harp, vibes, glockenspiel, cimbalon, orchestra and electronics
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VocalPli selon pli, for soprano and orchestra
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Chamber...explosante-fixe..., for flute, chamber ensemble and electronics
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Orchestral...explosante-fixe..., for flutes and orchestra
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ChamberAnthemes 2, for violin and electronics
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ChamberAnthemes, for solo violin
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ChamberDialogue de l'ombre double, for clarinet and electronics
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ChamberDomaines pour clarinette seule
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OrchestralDoubles, for large orchestra
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ChamberDérive 1, for flute, clarinet, piano, vibes, violin and cello
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ChamberDérive 2, for chamber ensemble
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OrchestralFigures - Doubles - Prisms, for orchestra
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Boulez's catalogueMost Popular
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Le Marteau sans maître
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Piano Sonata No. 2
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Notations (orchestral)
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Eclat/Multiples
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Rituel in memoriam Maderna
Most Acclaimed
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Le Marteau sans maîtrethe most celebrated post-war work — voice + six instruments
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Pli selon pliportrait of Mallarmé — soprano + orchestra
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Piano Sonata No. 3
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Sur Incises
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Réponslive electronics transform instruments in real time
Most Weird
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Piano Sonata No. 3open-form — the performer chooses the order of movements from 10 possible sequences; Boulez left it unfinished for 50 years
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...explosante-fixe...MIDI-flute processed live — the instrument’s sound is transformed differently in each performance
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Livre pour quatuoralso unfinished/open-form — the string quartet can play any selection in any order
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Dérive 2grew from 6 minutes in 1988 to 45 minutes by 2006 — Boulez kept composing it publicly
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Anthèmes 2violin + live electronics — the violin melody is surrounded by its own transformed echoes
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 27
- Vocal
- Le marteau sans maître, for alto, alto flute, guitar, vibes, xylorimba, percussion and viola
- Pli selon pli, for soprano and orchestra
- Chamber
- Messagesquisse, for solo cello and 6 cellos
- ...explosante-fixe..., for flute, chamber ensemble and electronics
- Anthemes 2, for violin and electronics
- Anthemes, for solo violin
- Dialogue de l'ombre double, for clarinet and electronics
- Domaines pour clarinette seule
- Dérive 1, for flute, clarinet, piano, vibes, violin and cello
- Dérive 2, for chamber ensemble
- Flute Sonatina
- Mémoriale, for flute and 8 instruments
- Sonatine, for flute and piano
- Sur incises, for 3 pianos, 3 harps, 2 vibes and marimba
- Keyboard
- Piano Sonata no. 3
- Incises
- Notations: 12 Pieces
- Piano Sonata no. 1
- Piano Sonata no. 2
- Structures, Book 2, for 2 pianos
- Une page d'éphéméride, for piano
- Orchestral
- Rèpons, for 2 pianos, harp, vibes, glockenspiel, cimbalon, orchestra and electronics
- ...explosante-fixe..., for flutes and orchestra
- Doubles, for large orchestra
- Figures - Doubles - Prisms, for orchestra
- Livre pour Cordes, for orchestra
- Rituel: In Memoriam Bruno Maderna, for orchestra