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celebrating three hundred years of music by women |
Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) and Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
These two sisters made an extraordinary impact not just on French musical life, but also on the international musical world.
Lili was the first woman to win the much coveted Prix de Rome, and Nadia became the most influencial musical teacher of the 20th century.Nadia entered the Paris Conservatoire aged ten, and later studied with Fauré. Her cantata Les Sirènes won her second prize in the Prix de Rome in 1908. Her father asked her to take care of her sickly younger sister; she was deeply affected by Lili's death in 1918, and from 1919 was no longer active as a composer. Among many honours, in 1932 she was awarded the Chevaier de la Légion d'Honneur; and in 1934 the Order of Polonia Restituta. She composed several vocal works between 1905 and 1922. From 1904 she began to teach in the family appartment at 36 rue Baillou, Paris. In 1953, Nadia was appointed overall Director of the Conservatoire américain at Fontainebleau. Annette Dieudonné started as her student in 1910 and then became her assistant through the rest of her life. Nadia was the first woman to conduct many orchestras in Europe and America. She devoted her life to conducting and teaching; her pupils included Lennox Berkeley, Dinu Lipatti, Elliott Carter, Aaron Copland, Jean Français, Thea Musgrave and Walter Piston. One of her better known statements is "I have been a woman for a little over 50 years and have got over my initial astonishment." 
Lili was singing melodies by ear from the age of two; her precocious musical career was guided to begin with by Nadia; Lili accompanied her sister to classes at the Conservatoire. She was ill with bronchial pneumonia from the age of two, and fragile for the rest of her brief life; she composed a surprising amount of music in her short time. In 1911, her cantata Les Sirènes (Grandmougin text) is about the mythical creatures luring sailors to their deaths. The pre-war (1912-1913) Pour les Funérailles d'un Soldat was first published by Ricordi, and is now issued by G Schirmer (GS32196; Wise Classical Music). Based on Goethe, at the age of 19 her cantata Faust et Hélène won her the First Prize in the Prix de Rome in 1913 (the first woman to win this), after which her achievements became headline news, and she gained a contract with the publisher Ricordi. Dedicated to Fauré, on 13 poems by Francis Jammes (Tristesses), the cycle Clairières dans le Ciel evoke the past, while expressing it as fresh (Durand DF01402100). Above all, as a femme fragile, her sensitive handling of large choral and orchestral forces are much admired. Her large-scale Psalm settings were written during the first World War. Psalm 24 (1916) uses brass fanfares and homophonic choral passages; Psalm 129 was written the same year; Du Fond de l'abîme, Psalm 130, coveys her Catholic faith. The three Psalms have been described as prayers for peace. The Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund was active between 1942 and 2018. Two of her pieces featured in the 2024 BBC Proms.Click on these works for more details below:
and the first minute of the Lili's orchestral piece D'un Soir Triste by clicking here. For general information about playing our sound clips, click here and return via your browser's Back button. For more information on the Boulanger sisters from the web, try these links: Nadia and Lili Back to Contents Three Pieces for Cello & Piano, 1915 (Nadia) 1. Modéré, E flat minor. 2. Sans vitesse et a l'aise, A minor. 3. Vite et nerveusement rythmé, C sharp minor. 8 mins These three characterful pieces were originally transcribed from three short virtuosic organ pieces, commissioned by another publisher; they are a transcription of the Improvisation from the collection Maitres contemporains de l'Orgue, and have light associations to Debussy and Messiaen. The first is a muted and gently rocking work with syncopations remeniscent of "The Snow is dancing". The second is one long canon at a quaver's distance, with a reference to pre-Baroque music. And the last uses an oriental scale with a flattened second in a gypsy atmosphere. It's a bravura piece with a wry playfulness and wit. The Ambache Ensemble performed them in London in March 2001. The set make an excellent concert item. Published by Heugel (#ALHE26533/34/35, Paris) & Silvertrust. Back to Contents Nocturne for Violin & Piano, 1911 (Lili) Assez lent, 5 mins This is a magical piece. It starts with a long pedal C over which hauntingly beautiful impressionist harmonies move. They lead to a central powerful climax, which then fades back to its earlier gentle atmosphere. Published by Ricordi, & Schott. David Juritz/Diana Ambache CD recording on Liberté, Egalité, Sororité: Ambache Recordings Liberté, Egalité, Sororité. Back to Contents D'un Matin de Printemps, 1918 (Lili) D'un Matin de Printemps 2 fl, 2 ob, cor a, 2 cl, bass cl, bn, contra, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, ta, timp, 3 perc, cel, hp, stgs. (5 mins) Showers of sparks fly in the morning sunlight in this short piece descriptive of an animated, joyful spring morning. The outer sections are full of bright sensuous sounds. The twinkling celeste and percussion, which shimmer in the light, contrast with a broader, yearning central section. Due to her early death from chronic illness, these two orchestral pieces were the last works written in Lili's hand; she dictated her actual last work Pie Jesu to Nadia. Score & parts on hire from United Music Publishers (UK) Back to Contents D'un Soir Triste, 1918 (Lili) D'un Soir Triste 2 fl, 2 ob, cor a, 2 cl, bass cl, 2 bn, contra, 4 hn, 2 tpt, 3 tbn, ta, 2 perc, cel, hp, stgs (12 mins) This is a beautifully atmospheric piece on a grand scale. The large scale orchestration is used to generous effect, and the whole has a deep resonance. This impressionist picture of sorrow includes ancient references, with slow parallel fifths and dark instrumental colours. It ranges from a tender sadness, which hangs in the air like an evening mist, to grandiose, and at other times sinister moods. She makes imaginative use of brass and percussion to create edgy effects, and leaves you in no doubt she is a master of her art. Score: IMSLP. Back to Contents Faust et Hélène 1913 (Lili) Ricordi, 1913. Soprano, tenor, bass; 2 fl, pic, 2 ob, cor a, 2 cl, bass cl, 2 bn, contra, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, ta, 2 perc, cel, 2 hp, stgs (30 mins) This Cantata won Lili the most coveted composition prize in France - the Prix de Rome. According to the competition rules, she composed the work in four weeks. It is a ravishingly beautiful score, ranging from a delicate impressionistic opening to grand Wagnerian climaxes, from a radiant love scene to evocations of chillingly sombre ghosts. This is a masterpiece from a composer aged 20, who perhaps wrote her extraordinary music from the knowledge that she hadn't long to live. There is a fine recording of this with Yan Pascal Tortelier conducting the BBC Philharmonic: Chandos Records. Also on YouTube: Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Back to Contents Books and writing 'Nadia and Lili Boulanger', Caroline Potter (Routledge: 2006) A rich description of two of the best-remembered women in 20th century music; this book was deemed essential reading for anyone interested in French music of that time. Back to Contents 'Nadia Boulanger, A Life in Music', Léonie Rosenstiel, (Norton, 2013). free download. Boulanger chose Rosenstiel to write her biography, providing Rosenstiel with her personal papers. This is a vivid account of Boulanger's life and music and her role as mentor to some of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. Back to Contents 'Nadia Boulanger, Mademoiselle' DVD by Bruno Monsaingeon (published by Ideale Audience, 1958;) Conversations and classes with Boulanger in her old age, including comments from Igor Markevitch and Leonard Bernstein: Youtube 1977 video. Writing Nadia Boulanger as teacher, Lennox Berkeley, MusicWeb International 1931 The Life and Works of Lili Boulanger, Léonie Rosenstiel, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1978 Griswold Award Yale News, 1962 Lili Boulanger's La Princesse Maleine, a Composer and her Heroine as literary icons, Journal of the Royal Musical Association, Vol 122 No 1, 1997, pp 68-104; Annegret Fauser Nadia Boulanger, a Life in Music, Léonie Rosenstiel, Norton The Musical Work of Nadia Boulanger, Jeanice Brooks, CUP, 2013 Nadia and Lili Boulanger, by Caroline Potter, Routledge, 2016. Thoughts on Music, Nadia Boulanger (translated and edited Jeanice Brooks & Kimberly Francis), Eastman Studies in Music, Boydell & Brewer The greatest music teacher who ever lived, Clemency Burton-Hill, BBC, 2017 A Performer's Analysis of Lili Boulanger's Clairières dans le Ciel, Deborah Williamson, University of North Texas, 2001 Score publishers Lili: Vielle prière bouddhique IMSLP. G Schirmer Hymne au soleil; Les Sirènes; & 6 others. Schott-musik.de Nocturne & Cortège; D'un Matin de Printemps;. Carus-verlag Psaume XXIV. Durand Salabert Eschig Lili Boulanger. Faust et Hélène: Durand DF01402200. Pour les funérailles d'un soldat: Kalmus. Hildegard.com. Hamelle. Bote & Bock. Heugel. Ricordi Italy. Nadia: Fantaisie variée, Wise classical, piano & orchestra. 3 Cello Pieces Silvertrust. Mélodies, vol 2: Wise classical. Recordings Chandos Records 9745: Faust et Hélène, BBCPO Tortelier. Deutsche Grammophon various. Naxos: various. Intaglio cd recordings INCD 703-1. Avie AV2414 Clairières. Marco Polo 8.223636: In Memoriam Lili Boulanger. Cedille: CDR 90000 054 Clairières. Harmonia Mundi: Les Heures Claires. Hyperion CDA66726 Clairières dans le ciel.
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