Pierre Boulez, RIP

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

IIRC, Ligeti, in an interview broadcast on Radio 3 some years ago, mentioned that in his analysis of Structures, he found some mistakes in Boulez's workings-out. Boulez was not a bit pleased and cut his ties with the Hungarian (before, obviously, a later rapprochement).

I wasn't sure if Alpie wasn't "convinced" by Ligeti's essay or by the "bleeding chunk" of the piece itself. The essay appeared before Boulez had established any real "ties" with the (at the time) largely unknown Ligeti - and it is typical of Boulez that he formed some of his closest and longest friendships with people with whom he could argue, rather than those who just agreed with him. This is confirmed by the discography of works he recorded of Music by seemingly "useless" composers - Ligeti, Carter, Berio, Birtwistle, even Xenakis - who weren't serialists; these far outnumber those by, say, Stockhausen.

Structures is a two-volume work (each in three sections) for two pianos which traces a progress from the very strictest "automatic" ("unmeditated") material in the first section (Structures 1a) to the loosest aleatoric writing in the middle of the Second volume. "Strictest" and "loosest" in very Boulezian terms, howver: the composer's "ego" (or "creativity") slips into 1a (the "errors" Ligeti pointed out) and his need for control into the second volume where "chance" becomes subject to serial procedures!

As with all masterpieces, the tension between the intentional and the unpredicted in this work constitutes the grit from which the pearls are formed.

[Tapiola]

I wasn't sure if Alpie wasn't "convinced" by Ligeti's essay or by the "bleeding chunk" of the piece itself. The essay appeared before Boulez had established any real "ties" with the (at the time) largely unknown Ligeti - and it is typical of Boulez that he formed some of his closest and longest friendships with people with whom he could argue, rather than those who just agreed with him. This is confirmed by the discography of works he recorded of Music by seemingly "useless" composers - Ligeti, Carter, Berio, even Xenakis - who weren't serialists; these far outnumber those by, say, Stockhausen.

Structures is a two-volume work (each in three sections) for two pianos which traces a progress from the very strictest "automatic" ("unmeditated") material in the first section (Structures 1a) to the loosest aleatoric writing in the middle of the Second volume. "Strictest" and "loosest" in very Boulezian terms, howver: the composer's "ego" (or "creativity") slips into 1a (the "errors" Ligeti pointed out) and his need for control into the second volume where "chance" becomes subject to serial procedures!

As with all masterpieces, the tension between the intentional and the unpredicted in this work constitutes the grit from which the pearls are formed.

Thanks for the clarifications and expansions, fhg! Most welcome.

[Bryn]

I missed it too, so can't help with a recording of last night's concert. But the whole thing is currently buried on the iPlayer in its video version:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p013s7yh/boulez-at-80

Hope that's some consolation.

Thanks. Very considerable consolation, especially as I was able to get_ it[sic]. Not Radio 3's HD Sound, of course, but you do get the video content as some consolation. No real response from an alert to the iPlayer team (apart from the automated pro forma acknowledgement email) as yet re. the Radio 3 In Concert programme's lack of availability. If there are rights issues, they really should advise the presenters not to make misleading announcements re. being able to listen for 30 days via the Radio 3 website.

Well, it was sort of working (cutting out after 1 hour 23 minutes and 23 seconds. Now it just says "This content doesn't seem to be working" and clicking on "Try again" does not help. The iPlayer file appears to be corrupt. What audio there is, by the way, is at a meagre 96kbps HE-AAC.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks for the clarifications and expansions, fhg! Most welcome.

[Bryn]

The Boulez at 80 Tribute Radio 3 In Concert from Sunday has now been made available Radio 3's HD Sound at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06yny7c

Now to try and get them to sort out the video linked to by makropulos.

[Bryn]

The video at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...h/boulez-at-80 has now been restored to operation.

[Serial_Apologist]

The video at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...h/boulez-at-80 has now been restored to operation.

Thanks very much, Bryn!

[ahinton]

Thanks very much, Bryn!

And many thanks from me, too! I'd not seen it before (and have only seen parts of it so far) but PMD's contributions are welcome and PB's own in interview quite endearing as well as engaging, witty, informative and sincere (it was good to get a more definitive account of the opera house detonation story, for starters!).

[Nick Armstrong]

And many thanks from me, too! I'd not seen it before (and have only seen parts of it so far) but PMD's contributions are welcome and PB's own in interview quite endearing as well as engaging, witty, informative and sincere (it was good to get a more definitive account of the opera house detonation story, for starters!).

PMD is a delight as is PB. And yes, interesting where the 'bomb the opera house' story came from - but also amusing when he says that the only reason not to bomb it was that 'it would be too difficult' (i.e. it was not necessarily a bad idea)...!

[Beef Oven!]

I was at that concert.

IIRC, Harrison Birtwistle was sitting next to Peter Maxwell Davies (a few rows in front of me to my right).

Will also watch it later.

Was anyone else from the forum there?

I'll take that as a no.

[Roslynmuse]

I'll take that as a no.

There were a few familiar faces in the audience though - I'm sure I spotted Mitsuko Uchida and Judith Bingham.

Great concert - and stunning singing from Elizabeth Atherton.

[Beef Oven!]

There were a few familiar faces in the audience though - I'm sure I spotted Mitsuko Uchida and Judith Bingham.

Great concert - and stunning singing from Elizabeth Atherton.

(very kind Roslynmuse, but don't feel you have to )

Yes, a fair few familiar faces. At the time, I only saw The Swan-man and Garrison Bumwhistle*.

*I think - I certainly saw the pair of them together at a couple of concerts in the noughties.

[pastoralguy]

Boulez and the members of the BBCSO's percussion section had, I believe, a slightly uneasy relationship. The principal, Gary Kettel encountered Boulez in a lift at Madia Vale on a Saturday morning where the following conversation took place...

The lift doors close and there's a slightly awkward silence with both men examining their shoes. Eventually, P.B. says

'What are you doing in on a Saturday morning?'

G.K. 'There's a big set up needed for next week. I wanted to come in whilst it was quiet'.

P.B. 'Ah'.

There's another awkward silence.

G.K. 'What are YOU doing in on a Saturday morning?'

P.B. 'I've got auditions'.

G.K. 'Well, best of luck mate!'

[Richard Barrett]

There are many anecdotes about Gary Kettel (not Kettle!) and his time at the BBCSO with Boulez. Meirion Bowen has this for example:

Once, rehearsing the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the East End-born percussion virtuoso, Gary Kettel, called out: “Er, Mr Boulez, bar 178 has five beats, and bar 179 has four: but you conducted them both in four.” Boulez responded: “Oh really, let me check.” And after a few minutes: “Sorry Gary, you’re quite right.” Kettel: “That’s all right, Pierre. But don’t let it happen again, or you’ll be in real trouble.”

... which is fairly typical of the ones I've heard, some of which are no doubt apocryphal.

[ahinton]

There are many anecdotes about Gary Kettel (not Kettle!) and his time at the BBCSO with Boulez. Meirion Bowen has this for example:

Once, rehearsing the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the East End-born percussion virtuoso, Gary Kettel, called out: “Er, Mr Boulez, bar 178 has five beats, and bar 179 has four: but you conducted them both in four.” Boulez responded: “Oh really, let me check.” And after a few minutes: “Sorry Gary, you’re quite right.” Kettel: “That’s all right, Pierre. But don’t let it happen again, or you’ll be in real trouble.”

... which is fairly typical of the ones I've heard, some of which are no doubt apocryphal.

Levine Andrade used to tell tales of someone in the orchestra that used to call him "Mr Bootlace" and, whilst that really ought to be apocryphal, its source might lead one to assume otherwise...