I am very sad to learn the news of Pierre Boulez’s death yesterday. Paul’s Griffith’s obituary is here.

I feel very fortunate to have worked with him, both as a conductor and a composer. I very much appreciated his precision, combined with sensitivity. Watching him conduct in person, and attending his masterclasses, also inspired me.

He asserted that to change a system, one must try from within the system. While his tenure at the NY Philharmonic left little permanent change, I hope that his other important work – IRCAM, for example, will leave a legacy.