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Pierre Boulez
Water Music (Complete)
Pierre Boulez - Water Music (Complete) - 1975 Classical - EX - Ultrasonic Clean - Good shape, gently handled. - The record has been cleaned using ultrasonic technology and is in strong EX/EX condition. The cover is crisp, only a VG+ because of age!
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Pierre Boulez
French composer, conductor, writer, and institutional organizer, Pierre Boulez was born on March 26, 1925, in Montbrison, France, and passed away on January 5, 2016, in Baden-Baden, Germany, at the age of 90.
Boulez studied under Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatoire from 1942 to 1945 and received private lessons from Andrée Vaurabourg and René Leibowitz. Through these studies, he adopted Messiaen’s focus on rhythm, non-developing forms, and influences from extra-European music, while also drawing from the Schönberg tradition as taught by Leibowitz. This fusion of influences is evident in his early works, particularly the intense and disruptive piano sonatas composed in 1946 and 1948, as well as the string quartet piece, Livre pour quatuor, from 1949. His early music, characterized by a violent style, resonated with the poetry of René Char, as seen in the cantatas Le visage nuptial (1946) and Le soleil des eaux (1948). However, Boulez was gradually moving toward a more objective serial control of rhythm, loudness, and tone color, culminating in the composition of Structures for two pianos in 1952.
During this period, Boulez developed a relationship with Karlheinz Stockhausen, and the two emerged as leaders of the European avant-garde. Boulez taught at the Darmstadt Summer Courses from 1955 to 1967 and created one of his landmark postwar works, Le marteau sans maître, in 1954. This piece, which sets Char's poetry to music, features a unique ensemble of contralto, alto flute, viola, guitar, and percussion, emphasizing struck and plucked sounds. The composition reflects Boulez's earlier style, filtered through his exploration of 'tonal serialism,' resulting in a work marked by feverish speed, unrest, and elegance.
In the mid-1950s, Boulez expanded his career to include conducting. By the mid-1960s, he gained prominence as a conductor, serving as chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1971 to 1974 and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 1971 to 1978. However, during this time, his creative output diminished. Influenced by Stéphane Mallarmé, Boulez began work on three major aleatory compositions following Le marteau, but only the Third Piano Sonata (1957) remains unfinished, and Pli selon pli for soprano and orchestra (1962) has undergone numerous revisions. The second book of Structures for two pianos (1961) is the only one of this period that he completed definitively. Other projects, including Eclat/Multiples for tuned percussion ensemble and orchestra, also remain incomplete, reflecting Boulez's commitment to the open-ended nature of his musical explorations. The only exception to this trend is the stark memorial work, Rituel for orchestra, completed in 1975.
From the mid-1970s onward, Boulez focused on his role as director of the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique, a computer studio in Paris, where he primarily worked on "Répons," a piece for orchestra and digital equipment.
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Description
Pierre Boulez - Water Music (Complete) - 1975 Classical - EX - Ultrasonic Clean - Good shape, gently handled. - The record has been cleaned using ultrasonic technology and is in strong EX/EX condition. The cover is crisp, only a VG+ because of age!
- Record was initially cleaned manually, then ultrasonically cleaned with iSonic Ultrasonic Cleaning prior to grading
- Records are packaged with a poly outer sleeve, the LP is placed in a fresh white inner sleeve directly after cleaning, (we include the accompanying sleeve, we send you both), separate from the cover to protect the seams during shipment, and of course, shipped within thick cardboard insert pads in a thick cardboard record mailer.
- We offer discounted shipping on multiple records: calculated shipping for the first one and $2 for each additional one. International Buyers, please read International Buyers paragraph below.
SRO Records Record Grading Guide:
SEALED/Mint:
Vinyl: Assumed mint, unverified until opened.
Sleeve: Visible through shrink wrap, graded as above.
NM (Near Mint):
Vinyl: Nearly flawless, with possible minor scuffs or hairlines only visible under strong light.
Sleeve: Appears new, as if freshly printed.
EX (Excellent):
Vinyl: Bright, with minor surface wear and hairlines, not affecting play.
Sleeve: May have faint creases or abrasions, but artwork is clean.
VG+ (Very Good Plus):
Vinyl: Obvious wear, scuffs and hairlines, plays with some noise but no major sound issues.
Sleeve: Worn with creases, noticeable wear, acid deterioration, corner dings, chipping, and possible seam wear.
Here's the typical SRO Records line in the sand. Anything below VG+, unless it's rare, unusual or just awesome, we're NOT going to sell online, much less go through the hassle of an ultrasonic cleaning, we're going to put it in one of many $10 Record boxes that we sell at Record Conventions and events. Some will wind up in the $1 Box, just to get it back out into the world for someone to enjoy or make a planter out of.
VG (Very Good):
Vinyl: Dull appearance with many hairlines and scuffs, somehow plays with persistent noise but no skips.
Sleeve: Worn with possible seam splits and moderate ring wear.
G+ (Good Plus):
Vinyl: Numerous marks and scratches, plays with significant noise but music usually overpowers flaws.
Sleeve: Rough appearance with possible seam splits and water damage.
G (Good):
Vinyl: Copious unforgettable marks, probably a skip or jump.
Sleeve: Heavy ring wear and damage, likely large seam splits or water damage.
F (Fair):
Vinyl: It's round with nearly infinite damage, skipper gonna skip
Sleeve: It's basically what's left of the sleeve for the album
International Buyers: We charge $7 for the first record and $2 a record thereafter for Domestic Shipping in the continental United States. This only includes shipping to the International hub here in the United States. Please carefully review the total shipping and VAT charges for your order before committing to a purchase, which will be different from what we are able to view or control on the US eBay site.
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Record Testing Equipment:
Turntable:
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Ortofon VMS 20 E Mk II Cartridge
Amplification:
Yamaha Natural Sound Receiver
Speakers:
JBL 4312 Studio
We're Not Happy Until You're Not Happy Dept.
We kid! Since 1983, we simply don't exist without happy customers; we offer hassle-free returns on all vinyl LP record album purchase that are returned in the exact condition they were sent. We cannot accept returns on factory sealed/mint new/unopened lp albums that have been opened. Please send us a message if you have any questions, concerns, or issues with your purchase; please do not open a return or an eBay case without contacting us first, we will make it right!
We are professional, quite reasonable to a fault and are ALWAYS willing to work to resolve any issue with a purchase!
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