Born in 1925 in Montbrison, France, Pierre Boulez attended university to study mathematics -- a subject that proved crucial to the theories that would serve as the foundation for his music. In 1943, he left math for his new calling, studying with Messiaen at the Paris Conservatoire until 1945. He pre

20th-century music, Dense, Layered, Saturated

Romantic music, Romantic poetry

According to Gene Santoro, John Zorn's "idiosyncratic mixtures of musical genres reflect the way popular music is currently transmitted from one culture to another...eclectic is far too weak a word to describe his intensely demanding yet playful sonic assaults." John Zorn's work doesn't simply titill

Cartoonish, Collage, Contemporary/downtown, Excessive, Free jazz, Free/avant-garde, Polychromatic, Psychedelic, Quirky

Stephen Sondheim earned his musical stripes alongside the best in the business: his first foray into creating a musical was as lyricist to Leonard Bernstein's composer for "West Side Story" (1957). After a second lyrical outing with Jules Styne's music for "Gypsy" (1959), Sondheim was ready to brave

20th-century music, Bubblicious, Grand, New american musical, Rhythmic, Witty