Music's Greatest Loss: Why Listen to Lili Boulanger
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ค. 2024
- Music used (all by Lili Boulanger):
D'un Soir Triste
Faust et Helene
D'un Matin de Printemps
Nocturne
Les Sirenes
Pour les Funerailles d'un Soldat
Soir Sur La Plaine
Faust et Helene
Clarieres dans le Ciel
Psalm 24
Psalm 129
Psalm 130 (De Profundis)
Vielle Priere Bouddhique
Pie Jesu
I forgot to mention Lili's extraordinary piece, "D'un Soir Triste" (Of a Sad Evening...) - definitely give it a listen.
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Sources:
Nadia and Lili Boulanger - Caroline Potter
Lili Boulanger - Paul Landormy and Frederick H. Martens
Lili Boulanger - Annegret Fauser
0:00 - Introduction
2:14 - The Child Prodigy
3:47 - Early Works
5:25 - The Prix de Rome
9:23 - Aftermath
10:13 - Later Works
14:16 - Illness and Final Works
In the 1970s, while I was at Iowa State University, I heard a music professor recount his experience as a student of Nadia Boulanger, showing that wit and humor were part of her teaching technique. She accepted this young American man as a student following her policy of accepting Americans not necessarily because they were talented but because they could afford her and she needed the money. (She was frank with him on this score.) He prepared a piece to play for her, taking care to perform it very expressively. As he was playing, Nadia laid a hand on his arm signaling him to stop. He did, and she said, "I think you are making it a little too beautiful."
I don't remember the last time that I was this hyped for a video. Lili Boulanger deserves every bit of additional exposure!
You don't know who she is lying sap
She's definitely one of those people that comes to mind when I think "what if." An incredible composer at such a young age.
I am French and a classical music lover. I didn’t know about Lily Boulanger. I thank you for allowing me to discover her wonderful music that speaks to my Heart.
But surely you must have heard of her sister Nadia who was a most influential teacher and composer. Among her many students was Brazil’s great Hector Villalobos.
«Me too» !
I am French. I had NEVER heard those names before in my life, or heard about those ladies before, and had to learn that from a British guy, on YT. Pretty humbling I guess.
I'm so glad this video showed up on my feed. She was an amazing talent, and the world is impoverished by her early death. I'd never heard of her before, but I'll definitely look up her music.
I'd never heard of her either. I had heard her sister's name; but didn't know what she did either. You Tube Out of the Blue Algorithm scores an excellent piece.
You have turn an old “rocker” into a Lili Boulanger fan 🤘🏼 Thank you so much for your video’s . I stumbled upon it by accident.
Amazing that we do not have this woman on a pedestal near Mendelssohn or Chopin-both prodigies whose lives were abbreviated. In virtual terms she already shares a plinth with Fanny Mendelssohn, a gifted musician who wanted to compose, and began, but was discouraged. It’s bad enough to be cheated out of perhaps the greatest music never written by men like Mozart and Schubert, because they died young of diseases for which treatments did not exist. But we must also reckon the absence of great music and art, mathematics and physics, entire libraries on astronomy, chemistry, geology, engineering, biology, anthropology, medicine, linguistics, philosophy, because until about 50 years ago, half the human race has been handcuffed to kitchen and nursery doorknobs.
Fortunately for the civilized world there are still intelligent women who enjoy raising children in a healthy family environment, and who don’t consider the task “being handcuffed to a kitchen doorknob” (as if that were ever the case).
@@TokyoXtreme In a just world, all men and all women would not feel limited in their choices. I would have loved to be the parent who did the home care for my kids, or at least more than I was allowed by the situation available to me.
I was making a defense of larger choice for women. Your remark strikes me as offensive, actually, because no one was denigrating the work in the home--only the relegation of one role per sex. Why this internet impulse to correct everyone's thoughts, even when intentions are honorable?
@@prototropo Empty virtue signaling.
@@TokyoXtreme It was virtue bull-horning, actually. And how empty is any assertion that attracts reflexive reactions, like subservience-signaling.
@@prototropo Being content and consistent with your biological role is fulfilling and supremely satisfying - nothing “subservient” about it. You can still write music while raising children… you don’t need to be a 45 y.o. catlady who runs the PR department.
One of my music professors was a student of the great Nadia. No doubt, they were 2 brilliant female human beings. I once composed a piece of music to compliment mighty female musical talent. Nadia, Lili, Clara Schumann, Nannerl Mozart, Fanny Mendelssohn, and today the fabulous Hilary Hahn. Super Beautiful!
I had the unforgettable privilege of singing in the semi-chorus of Psalm 130 at a major choral festival a few years ago. It was one of the most incredible musical experiences of my life. Such an extraordinary piece of music!!
Lilli Boulanger sneaked onto my radar
when the programmer of the local concert hall
sneaked a piece of hers onto a programme
a few years ago
It was the revelation of the evening / season.
I’m now at peace having seen someone use “sneaked” instead of “snuck.” 😂
Major props
@@callmeqt1269
I learnt my English in Britain
and the older form "sneaked"
is more common than
the American upstart "snuck".
It is interesting that the verb "to sneak"
became irregular in North American
when it had been regular in Britain
for centuries.
I understand both
but when push comes to shove
I tend to use the word sneaked
in speaking and writing.
This American composer of a New England folk opera and other pieces for piano thanks you for your wonderful tribute to the late great Lili Boulanger and references to her beloved sister Nadia! It's too bad that more women composers are recognized like the late great American composer Amy Beach, another New Englander whose music was performed at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago's White City! And it's too bad we have to make references to "women composers" when we don't go around saying "men or male composers"! Sexism is still rampant in the field of music, unfortunately! Sad that Lili had to suffer so much with illness. Hopefully, her brilliant legacy will live on and more people will discover her as well!
God Bless You Lili. Your music will forever play upon our heartstrings.
Every century has its musical tragedy
18th being Mozarts early death
19th century being Schubert's early death
20th being Boulanger and Gershwins early death
Also, Chopin died before reaching the age of 40. Fortunately he was able to compose a large quantity of incredible compositions, and I would argue that Chopin's music is most consistently beautiful. Most composers have some better compositions as well as some missteps, but almost every piece written by Chopin is a gem.
Guillaume Lekeu
Oh shut up you've never heard of her
Kalinnikov (compared with Chaykovskiy)
Felix Mendelssohn died at 38.
Astonishing. I didn’t know her and yet, just by listening to a fee minutes of her works I know already she’ll be one of my favourites
I feel the same you. I'm very drawn to the sound of her music.
That's because you two are easily manipulated sheep! You listen to some hype & without any personal investment, you're more than convinced! BaaAAaah! BAAaaAAh!
@@marblemadness8870 what a strange thing for you to be upset about, they’re not changing their politics or religious beliefs, or any other thing that is wildly important. They’ve just been exposed to a new musician and like it.
@@bblovesyou1 his marbles gettin away from him?
It is so surprising there hasn't been a biopic movie on the Boulanger sisters yet, it has great cathartic and pathetic (in the traditional theater meaning) potential !
Hollywood obviously prefers making hundreds movies about batman or captain america.
@@nicktamer4969 L reply tbh
@@nicktamer4969 to bad but how about French? it was my thought also . What a pity we do not have the film about this lady composer. How about the feminists movie makers?
@@LeRoi715 problem is : both the Boulangers worked (litterally) to their death to reach this level. Ain't exactly the message modern Hollywood is trying to pass right now; and as to the French cinema, the nature of financements in this industry makes the decision makers (Public TV channels) only go for safe mediocre "comedies" with always the same actors, or very low budget "social-messaging " movies. A high end classical music biopic, despite its story-telling potential, looks too risky for them
@@Cancoillotteman That’s why the studio system was the best.
Quelle tristesse de mourir si jeune. J'adore sa musique qui par chance a été interprétée par de grands artistes. On ne s'en lasse pas. Merci pour cette belle vidéo.
I found this by accident. I'm not a devotee of classical music, but I was moved both by Lili's story and the snippets of her music provided. I shall have to listen to more of her music. And as to the creator of this vid, his enthusiasm for his subject is truly infectious!
I have never heard of her before! I actually feel that those of us who have never heard of her or her work have been robbed of the genius works of someone who created so much within the short time that she had on this earth. thanx for sharing 👍
Thank you so much for bringing attention to Lili, who I discovered in a recent voice recital. She deserves more recognition and it’s a shame she seems to have fallen through the cracks of music history.
Her story touched me beyond words. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for this video. I had never heard of her. Such a shame she died at only 24. What a loss. But now her memory lives on.
Doing chores and listening to classical music is the best!
I found her when I had to play one of her pieces (nocturne) for an exam. Needless to say, it's my favourite piece ever
Absolutely love this video! Thank you for making it!!
Amazing work! Thanks for the commentary and the subtle use of musical parlance.
Thank you so much for putting this video together. What wonderful music. Thank you.
Wow, these songs are absolutely soul rending. Thank you so much for spreading her music to more people!
So sad she was cut short by her illness. I didn't know there was such a thing as intestinal tuberculosis.
Her music is lovely!
I only yesterday [14 April 2022] "discovered" Lili and her astonishingly beautiful music ("Faust et Hélène")... And I have a graduate degree in music from a major American university ! Since then I have listened to four or five of her gorgeous choral works.
Where had she been - where had *I* been - all these years!
You're right: she most certainly would have become a towering musical presence had she lived as long as her wonderful teacher/sister, Nadia.
How very sad that she left us at only 24... at the beginning of her career as a composer.
But what a true joy to partake of the music she gave us in her brief life.
I will be singing "Hymne au soleil" in a concert with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay in March. I am so excited about the prospect of presenting one example of Lili Boulanger's genius.
Lili Boulanger absolutely would have dominated the 20th century had we been blessed with her full and healthy life. A voice unlike any other for a century or more before or after. A life of suffering but she left us the gifts of her works.
What an incredible story, what an amazing talent. These are the kind of stories that need to be told so that these prodigies can be brought to the forefront & their great works can be enjoyed by more people.
Thank you for an excellent vid. 🤟❤
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It’s amazing that one family brought forth such amazing gifts. The sheer determination and focus shown by both sisters through there accomplishments, gained despite of great pain, is baffling. Their shared passion for music in all its forms, and their faith in its Provider should inspire us all. Thanks Oscar, for yet another glimpse into a whole new world of music.
Music so achingly beautiful. That last piece I want played at my funeral, it needs to played, heard. Friends and family will appreciate it’s glory.🦋
Just performed Faust et Helene last year. An absolute masterpiece for someone so young, I loved it and couldn't believe I hadn't heard of it before. Incredibly mature vocal writing balanced with a equally potent orchestral sounds.
Well, what a fabulous discovery: the Channel, and Lili's extraordinary music. Thank you so much.
Thank you so very much for creating such a warm, dedicated documentation.
I discovered her when I was around 14, by accident, in the library, before learning about all the Americans who had later studied with her sister, Nadia. A few years after, I had a professor who had studied with Nadia and I could barely get two sentences out of him about that experience. Quite odd, I thought, but I assumed it was, in his case, brutal.
Nah man he lied to you. If they dont wanna talk about it it's either a lie or he/she did something bad to her/him.
@@olearris Absolutes are problematic states, friend. It’s good to recall that there is every kind of personality under the sun. No, I left the anecdote early. There is no question this prof was her pupil, nor that he earned his place, he did. It’s a known. However, perhaps “intense“ doesn’t describe NB, and, at the end of the day, like NB, composition was not his strong suit. The other 1-2 degree-away personal, reliable connection I had came a couple years before I was recommended to this particular prof, and the four others who had adjudicated in his dept, when I had been connected by an older, established composer friend to Slonimsky, while I was a teen. NS, who was positively loquacious and incredibly generous to me, spent many afternoons over the years (until his serious health issues intervened), going into technical details about structural concepts and devices in composition, yet spoke equally and with just as much passion and vigor about anyone in music he knew and everything I plied him with. He loved regaling, and he did touch on Ms. N. Boulanger. She was difficult as I understood. My ultimate impression remains that, although she had a greater track record of meaningfully assisting many artists along their way, she also broke a few as Frank Lloyd Wright did (virtually all) of those Taliesen fellows. At the same time, 20th c American serious music would have been quite different without her.
I doubt you've heard of her liar
@@jasonbourne5142 What a bizarre comment. Do your parents know you’re on the Internet? Be well, friend. BTW, if one has been involved at any level with serious music in the 20th c, it’s impossible to not be aware of Nadia Boulanger. If one is aware of Nadia Boulanger, it’s impossible to be unaware of Lili Boulanger. There are more obscure tracks before you hit the wilderness, fella. Good luck. LOL.
This comment and it's replies are peak comedy. Made my day 10/10.
I don't listen to music like this, but have watched this as TH-cam sent it to me, and your voice has such passion it kept me watching. You explain it well. Thanks:)
Thanks for discovering this amazing composer
Amazing composer
I live near the Eastman School of Music and study there part time on and off. I went to a concert last week and they performed two of Lili's pieces. She has become one of my favorites over the past few years.
sad she died so young
Thank you for educating us on this wonderful music! Never heard of her before.
I introduced my daughter to classical music a long time ago but at some point, it dawned on me that all of the composers I was bringing to her attention were male (you know, the usual suspects: Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, etc.). So I Googled "female composers" one day and Lili Boulanger popped up. I gave her a listen and loved her sound immediately. Like everyone, I would have loved to have heard what she could have done post-24 years of age but that's just the way the universe works sometimes.
This was a fabulous tribute. Thank you.
This video moved me in such an unexpected way.
Oh, the power of music ..... and sad stories.
Thank you so much for this wonderful introduction to an outstanding composer and musician
Thank you, this was most inspiring video about a genius that whom we lost so young.
Thank you for this amazing introduction to this music.
Thanks for sharing this. I've never heard of her before. Gonna put her on my list right now!
WOW. Don't recall hearing about Lili Boulanger before. The examples you gave of her music here are exquisitely beautiful. Thanks so much, Inside the Score.What an excellent video; an easy decision on subscribing to you.Thanks again !!
Thank you for all that you do.
I relate so much to Lily's challenges with health as I recently had to leave a college that wouldn't accommodate my disability. I live in constant pain and constant weakness since childhood. I have no doubt though that I will continue to pursue a music career in spite of it.
Stay strong and good luck with everything! I admire people who despite their constant pains manage to actually keep creating!
@@stanimirlambov7222 Thank you 😌
Such lack of accommodation should be illegal by now. The time will come when we will look back at ourselves in shame. I hope there’s a way to urgent change. Sending you much strength and love from Brazil ✨
@@terrylaguardia6838 💞
I don't know why this video was proposed to me, but I'm glad I've watched it clued to my seat.
Complements to the composer and narrator for the excellent job done with this video.
Greating from Milan in Italy.
Fascinating, thank you!👏🎶
Thank you, Oskar! Wonderful video. Ofc Ill go listen to Lili 💛
Hauntingly beautiful music - thank you for bringing her back into my attention!
It's precious.
Thank you!
Thank you very much for this recommendation, it is absolutely fantastic. I love your videos amigo. Luigi
Thank you for introducing her hand her work to me! I had never heard of this genius.
Luscious works. So powerful, yet so kind and gentle.
thank you for this introduction to composer Lili Boulanger. fascinating, gorgeous & unfamiliar music. until, this is, the taste of the Pie Jesu towards the end of your video. in addition to being a recording artist, composer & performer, i would sometimes record other artists who needed their performance documented. one such was a college student's graduation project which included the Pie Jesu. at the time of the recording, i was unfamiliar with the piece, & my jaw dropped with the opening interval. she performed the piece flawlessly, & i was never quite the same. of all the recordings i have made for other artists, it is the only piece i still listen to.
thank you again for this video.
Lili Boulanger has made so many master pieces, she was a musical wonder child, she died 24 years old - only the greatest composers (f.i. Schubert, Mendelssohn and of course Mozart) made master pieces when they were so young. Unbelieveble she made Psaume 130 a massive work (half an hour long) for choir and orchestra nearly 20 years old, what is far more beautiful than a lot of works in this genre what we now often on the radio hear
Thank you so much for this show. I was looking for this music.
Thankyou for introducing me to some beautiful music!
Beautiful. Thakyou!
Thank you Thank you for providing this introduction, and this after hearing her name for so many years.
Thank you so much for having prepared this great presentation and for letting the world know what Lili was about
Stop acting like you've heard of her, you're not special
Nice video, very well done... i didn't knew her, but after this i heard about 2 hours already! I have to say THANK YOU
By the way. thanks for the introduction to her magnificent music. Stunning
Thank you so much for this. It’s brilliant, thank you thank you.
Delightfully informative. Thank you. 🙏🏾
Thank you so much for this video! Lili's life story always breaks my heart, I wish she'll be one day recognized as one of the greatest
is there any merit to considering her 'one of the greatest' or are you equating potential with actual? I can't say I'm familiar with her work but it looks like she left a small oeuvre, even considering how young she died. Most of the female composers ppl try to being attention to are actually not underrated, they were hobbyist composers of mostly rote salon music who get *more* regard than their actual music warrants by virtue of being a relatively rare thing (a female composer). Is there any piece of hers you can recommend for the uninitiated that showcases an original composing talent?
@@helvete_ingres4717 Du Fond de l’Abime is a masterpiece. Also, before running your mouth off, you should know that she won the Prix de Rome and almost won it twice, but passed out during one of the exams due to her chronic illness.
@@jacobbass6437 why on earth should I know that piece of meaningless trivia? Prizes are very temporal things, they're no indication of anyone being 'one of the greatest' - movies win oscars every year that no one ever talks about again, only very short-sighted people place importance on such things. Anyway I've already listened to the piece mentioned in this video, Faust + Helen, it sounded like someone from the 20th century trying to write like Wagner with orchestral texture almost straight from Tristan + Isolde. Or rather, nothing about it even told me it was written in the 20th century
@@helvete_ingres4717 why should you know that, because you ignorantly dismissed her compositional prowess while having not heard any of her music nor knowing anything about her just because she is a woman. Do I agree the Faust et Helen is a Wagnerian, yes. Do I still think it presents great compositional prowess, yes, but I don't think it is representational of her great works, which is why I recommended Du Fond de l'Abime.
@@jacobbass6437 your reading comprehension is subnormal if you equate 'asking for a recommendation on where to start' with 'ignorant dismissal'. I also asked for justification on ranking her 'one of the best' (not that I personally see all that much value in ranking composers) - even if she had composed a masterpiece or more than one, thats a very tall claim. Second, I made a very general claim about female composers from history which if you're at all honest, you wont' dispute eg. Clara Schumann, wrote music that was totally mediocre and ironically for all the story gets told that female composers were unjustly ignored by history, no one would remember her name or listen to her music today if she had NOT been a woman and married to Robert Schumann. Failing to distinguish between general and specific statements is something unintelligent people struggle with. Also you fail to convince me why I 'should' know some piece of trivia about a composer winning an award, nor is this really evidence of the 'compositional prowess' you allude to, not least b/c such institutions that gave such awards were usually very conservative and hostile to originality, or boundary-pushing works.
wonderful job bringing attention to this under appreciated master of composition. Your love of her music really comes through and inspires the listener to want to explorer her music first hand. Thank you...
Thank you 🙏 so much for educating us.
It's only a loss for what she could have done. What she DID do has already impressed the great musical minds of her generation, and those who came after. We can be grateful for what was freely given to us. Thank you for this mini documentary.
And now I’ve learned something valuable. Thank you.
I first discovered the music of Lili Boulanger through a book at the San Diego Public Library that told her story, including her being the first woman to win the Prix de Rome and her untimely death at age 24. The moment I read about her cantata "Faust et Héléne" I knew I had to listen to it, and it turned out to be every bit as good as the book had said it was, a musical masterpiece worthy to stand alongside Arrigo Boïto's setting of the Faust-and-Helen scene in his opera "Mefistofele" (the most underrated opera of all time, but that's another story). Lili Boulanger's music shows the influence of Debussy (the 900-pound elephant in the French musical world) but also a massive orchestral sonority I'd expect more from a German than a French composer of her time. There's a sense that she had potential she didn't live long enough to achieve (something we don't think of about Mozart, Schubert or Gershwin, despite their early deaths), but the relatively small amount of music she actually left behind certainly deserves to be far bearer known.
I heard Lili Boulanger on Radio 3 and have been hooked since.
Looked forward to this video! Then talks all the way through it !
Extraordinary lady
This was wonderful. Thank you.
Such beautiful music, such a talent. Taken too soon.
Another Lili Boulanger piece that could have been explored is Sous Bois, as its a truly incredible piece.
Thank you for sharing. ✝️🎼
Thank you very much for this beautiful video
Thank you so much for this video.
Enlightening and sublime!
Thanks reminding us Lili from France
I just discovered her a few days ago, and you have a video about her! Great timing!
You u are really talented my friend 🤗 you have my full support 😁 thank you for sharing this amazing video👌👍👌👍👌
this was a perfect video for me to stumble across on womens history months.
i think lili boulanger life shows n many ways that you are more fortunate than others.
with that aside even having the sickness that plagued her life, she kept moving forward.
I find it commendable🔥
may she along with her sister Nadia boulanger,
rest in peace.
The first thing I heard by her was Faust et Helene live in a hall. I’ve been a fan ever since.
God i love her so much and i have waited this video so much. Thank you
So a very contemporary to another music woman genius Maria Grever.
Thank you for this
Amazing video! We just had about her in my conservatory class. Her music is amazing🙌🙌
You're lying, you just want to be noticed
Wow! I'm just listening to her "Nocturne and Cortège", and as you say, her music is simply divine! Thanks for the video.
My Father was a pipe organist who met Nadia when she guest lectured at one of his theory & comp classes while he was a student at Manhattan School of Music back in the late 1950s-early 1960s. And one of my own theory profs had a chance to study with her in France back in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Very interesting video about her sister! Thanks for sharing. I just subscribed to your channel and newsletter and am looking forward to learning more about composing.
Merci for this.
A very amazing life what a great composer!