Pierre Boulez, and His Legacy

A few months ago, we lost a great composer from this world.

Pierre Boulez is the person who pushed modernism’s boundaries and made great contributions to modern/contemporary music in various ways and in some realms.

His enthusiasms and hopes for music influenced not only many young composers and musicians but also audiences, and people who are in other fields such as science. 

Pierre was asked by Georges Pompidou to found an institution for research in music in IRCAM (Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique, or Institute for Research and Coordination Acoustic / Music in English) that has programmes in contemporary classical music.

He always attracted and motivated young musicians with his black-and-white statement; “This is wrong, and this is right.” Pierre never stopped seeking something new and kept thinking about ‘the future of classical music.’

One of arts organization Pierre founded is Ensemble InterContemporain.

It’s a Paris-based, world-renowned ensemble of 31 full time musicians dedicated to performing and promoting contemporary music from the 20^th and 21^st centuries since 1972. They give a large number of performances in France and abroad, and appear especially at international festivals. Through Pierre’s thoughts about music, the organization gives artists to have many opportunities, and have teaching and other outreach activities.

Now, under the lead of Matthias Pintscher, the artistic director, they share passion for new music, explore new music realms, and support and nourish young musicians, composers and conductors. The ensemble has premiered more than 500 works over the past 35 years.

The Ensemble InterContemporain is one of the biggest and the most powerful, experimental organizations in the world that promote and support ‘the future of classical music’ for sure.

Related article and websites:

Pierre Boulez dies at 90, from New York Times

Ensemble InterContemporain

IRCAM

How Classical Music Can Help Kids.

This was an interesting read about a producers who are for incorporating classical music in children's routine from very young age. I completely agree because learning music from the very young age definitely contributes into one's development process. I think it's a great step and people actually realize which type music is worth introducing to children. By this I am not trying to diminish pop culture by any way, I just mean that everything builds up from basis but whatever builds on it sometimes stays (and also starts to be called classics) and sometimes does not. That's why it's important to know to base first.
The other thing is to find a way for it to be more accessible from child's perception because if the music and activity involving music are not inviting and interesting for children, I am not sure how it will affect their focus.
Article itself.