Lili Boulanger: 1893-1918

[Serial_Apologist]

One of the would-have-been great figures of 20th century music, were it not for a lifetime of ill-health robbing her from us at the age of 25; certainly, in my opinion, one of the greatest women composers of all time.

[ahinton]

One of the would-have-been great figures of 20th century music, were it not for a lifetime of ill-health robbing her from us at the age of 25; certainly, in my opinion, one of the greatest women composers of all time.

One of them, indeed (Bacewicz is another who comes to mind); she was actually only 24 when she died and had worked for much of her life against serious odds to produce the work that she did.

[Serial_Apologist]

These programmes are absolutely not to be missed! Follow them from the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b1pngg

[Nick Armstrong]

These programmes are absolutely not to be missed! Follow them from the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b1pngg

Heard the first one: a revelation.

[ardcarp]

Loving this. Long been a fan of Lili, though I've not heard Faust et Helene (her Prix de Rome piece) before. It was fascinating for its whiffs of Wagner, Debussy and for its heroic use of the orchestra. Incredible how her style matured so quickly in the mere 5 years left to her.

[Rolmill]

I'm really looking forward to catching up with this week's CoW, as I have long enjoyed a couple of CDs of her orchestral/choral music (from Y-P Tortelier and Mark Stringer, some overlapping repertoire) and am keen to explore further.

Her music is being featured in this year's Proms, of course, and there will be several opportunities to hear some of it live (in my case, as I suspect for many others, for the first time).

[ahinton]

I'm really looking forward to catching up with this week's CoW, as I have long enjoyed a couple of CDs of her orchestral/choral music (from Y-P Tortelier and Mark Stringer, some overlapping repertoire) and am keen to explore further.

Her music is being featured in this year's Proms, of course, and there will be several opportunities to hear some of it live (in my case, as I suspect for many others, for the first time).

As an aside - and since I mentioned Bacewicz earlier as another of the foremost female composers - I just flicked through a documentary on her that someone's uploaded to YouTube (I didn't watch it in its entirety as it's over 50 minutes and all in Polish) and at one point there happens by coincidence to be a very brief clip of the street sign for Rue Lili Boulanger in Paris!

[Serial_Apologist]

As an aside - and since I mentioned Bacewicz earlier as another of the foremost female composers - I just flicked through a documentary on her that someone's uploaded to YouTube (I didn't watch it in its entirety as it's over 50 minutes and all in Polish) and at one point there happens by coincidence to be a very brief clip of the street sign for Rue Lili Boulanger in Paris!

I'm willing to butcher sat up when you saw that!

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm willing to butcher sat up when you saw that!

Surely more likely to cause pain?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This has been a fascinating week, treating LB with the same respect as any other composer, without falling into the trap of emphasising her gender as though it were more important than her music.

[Lat-Literal]

One of the would-have-been great figures of 20th century music, were it not for a lifetime of ill-health robbing her from us at the age of 25; certainly, in my opinion, one of the greatest women composers of all time.

Yes.

I have this disc which won a gramophone award in 2000:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boulanger-Faust-Helene-triste-printemps/dp/B00000JWIU

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes.

I have this disc which won a gramophone award in 2000:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boulanger-F.../dp/B00000JWIU

I have a cassette of a concert broadcast given I think by that unit in Manchester, excluding "Faust & Helene". Surprisingly muted audience applause - maybe they were all stunned by the impact of the Psalm 130 setting, which has to be one of the most powerful of sacred settings ever. It's been interesting listening to Ms Boulanger's music in the context of new French music of that time with much emphasis on the satirical; I'm going to get a photocopy of her and stick it up on my study wall here.

[Lat-Literal]

I have a cassette of a concert broadcast given I think by that unit in Manchester, excluding "Faust & Helene". Surprisingly muted audience applause - maybe they were all stunned by the impact of the Psalm 130 setting, which has to be one of the most powerful of sacred settings ever. It's been interesting listening to Ms Boulanger's music in the context of new French music of that time with much emphasis on the satirical; I'm going to get a photocopy of her and stick it up on my study wall here.

Interesting.

Thank you.

[Serial_Apologist]

This series on the tragic figure of a great composer is being repeated this week. I shall probably find myself being emotionally tossed from pillar to post once more.