Clara Schumann
Sechs Lieder, Op. 13
1. Ich stand in dunklen Träumen
2. Sie liebten sich beide
3. Liebeszauber
4. Der Mond kommt still gegangen
5. Ich hab’ in deinem Auge
6. Die stille Lotosblume
Drei Lieder aus Zwölf Gedichte aus Friedrich Rückert’s Liebesfrühling, Op. 1
7. Er ist gekommen in Sturm und Regen
8. Liebst du um Schönheit
9. Warum willst du and’re fragen?
Lili Boulanger
Francis Jammes – Clairières dans le ciel
10. Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie
11. Elle est gravement gaie
12. Parfois, je suis triste
13. Un poète disait
14. Au pied de mon lit
15. Si tout ceci n’est qu’un pauvre rêve
16. Nous nous aimerons tant
17. Vous m’avez regardé avec toute votre âme
18. Les lilas qui avaient fleuri
19. Deux ancolies
20. Par ce que j’ai souffert
21. Je garde une médaille d’elle
22. Demain fera un an
Total playing time: 53:47
Lili Boulanger ©
By Nina Bols Lundgren
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) was one of the most talented French composers of her generation. Despite the shortness of her life, she created a significant collection of works for choir, orchestra, voice, piano, violin and flute. Afflicted with Crohn’s disease from adolescence, Lili Boulanger was preoccupied with death from the beginning of her career. Her first song, composed in 1907, was named Lettre de mort (Letter of death).
Born into one of the most important musical families of the 19th century, both Lili’s father, Ernest, and grandfather, Frederic, were teachers at the Paris Conservatory of Music. Her mother, Raissa, a reportedly charismatic Russian princess, had been a student in her father’s class. Lili’s older sister, Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979), was also a composer and later a prominent music pedagogue, with many famous students including the American Aaron Copland and the Danish Per Nørgård. Although the sisters were competitors throughout their lives, after her death, Lili Boulanger’s compositions became standard repertoire for students of Nadia Boulanger at the same level as the repertoire of Bach and Mozart.
When Nadia Boulanger was admitted to the Paris Conservatory at the age of ten, little sister Lili followed along, participating in music theory lessons as a five year old and later continuing with organ studies with Louis Vierne. Lilli studied additionally music composition with Gabriel Fauré and dedicated her song cycle Clairières dans le ciel to him (Maître Fauré).
Clairières dans le ciel (1913-14) with lyrics by Francis Jammes is sublime and demanding. The beautiful, enigmatic and sensual lyrics merge with a compositionally ‘perfumed’ and impressionistic atmosphere surely inspired by Claude Debussy. There are also elements from the “Catholic-French” style (Au pied de mon lit), which are reminiscent of César Franck and later Olivier Messiaen. These songs reflect a compositional intelligence, deep emotions and are quite unique. Eight of the songs were later arranged for symphony orchestra.
Lili expanded her horizons through travels to Italy and became the first woman ever to win the Prix de Rome in 1913 with her cantata Faust et Helene. If Lili Boulanger had lived a longer life, she would surely have given us many more magnificent compositions. Sadly, she died in the middle of her creative processes.
RELEASE DATE: March 2023
CATALOGUE NUMBER.: DACOCD 959
EAN: 5709499959008
