'Retrouvailles' for piano was written to celebrate the 75th birthday of my friend, Pierre Boulez, Mach 26, 2000. The score retruns to the motto Bb, (o), U (=t), L (=a), E, (z) used in my 'Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux I' (for his 60th birthday) and 'Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux II' (for his 70th). 'Retrouvailles' beginns by recalling the end of 'Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux II' and ends by recalling the opening of 'Esprit I'. I hope this work gives some small suggestion of the great admiration I have for this extraordinary musician. Elliot Carter