The Ensemble InterContemporain is a sort of chamber orchestra that specializes in contemporary classical music. An orchestra is a musical ensemble used most often in classical music. ... Classical music is generally thought of as sophisticated and refined; it may stem from a regional tradition, but aspires to universal form of communication. ...
Ensemble InterContemporain was formed in 1976 by Pierre Boulez. It was concieved as a group of 31 soloists, who could play orchestral literature, or literature for any combination of instruments. At first, the idea was for the ensemble to be more flexible than an orchestra. A composer could just not write for any instrument that she or he did not want in the ensemble, rather than being confined by the standard instrumentation of orchestral literature. This model has become quite prevailent in contemporary classical music for a variety of reasons, including the financial difficulties of orchestras in the late 1990's and early 2000's (having fewer people means that the ensemble can be cheaper to maintain), and the increased responsibility that the smaller ensemble placed upon each player (there is less dead weight in this sort of ensemble). Many works that might have been concieved for orchestra are now being written with this instrumentation in mind. For example, Tristan Murail's "Desintegrations", Helmut Lachenmann's "Zwei Gefühle: Musik mit Leonardo", and Pierre Boulez's "Répons", are all pieces that are somewhat orchestral in their depth of color, but have been written for a smaller, less ponderous ensemble. Pierre Boulez Pierre Boulez (IPA: /pjÉ›Ê.buˈlÉ›z/) (born March 26, 1925) is a conductor and composer of classical music. ... Tristan Murail (b. ... Helmut (Friedrich) Lachenmann (born November 27, 1935) is an important German composer. ...
Pierre Boulez Pierre Boulez (IPA: /pjÉ›Ê.buˈlÉ›z/) (born March 26, 1925) is a conductor and composer of classical music. ... Peter Eötvös (born 1944) is a composer and conductor. ... David Robertson is the Music Director of the St. ...
The concert by the EnsembleIntercontemporain at MIT last Friday was yet another testament to the extensive creativity of the composers of this century.
In addition to this, the Ensemble played with such assurance that the concert, which consisted of music that is a challenge to listen to, was thoroughly enjoyable and oftentimes enlightening.
The EnsembleIntercontemporain, founded by the venerable Pierre Boulez, is of such high caliber that every work they played was enjoyable to hear, even for those who have had little previous exposure to twentieth-century music.
Ensemble Modern knew what they were getting into as they contacted Frank Zappa in 1991.
Not only did Zappa praise the ensemble ("Their commitment is breathtaking"), but also the interest, attention, and enthusiasm of the audience.
The ensemble repeatedly requested to have Zappa's Synclavier pieces arranged for them, as if to prove to the composer that even the unplayable was actually playable.
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