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 20th
and 21st 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.
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