Composer Masterclass Instructor: Nadia Boulanger
If the popular streaming show “Master Class” would have been available in the 20th century, Nadia Boulanger would have been the quintessential pick for a class about composition. Her passion for music and education shaped the music and creators of the 20th century, especially the great American Composers.
Need to Know
Nadia Boulanger was born into a Parisian musical family in 1887. Her father, Ernest Boulanger, was a French oratorio composer and her mother, Raissa Myshetskaya, was a Russian princess. Nadia’s younger sister Lili Boulanger became the first woman to win the Prix de Rome award for composition. Read more about Lili Boulanger here.
Nadia began studying conducting and composition at the age of 10 at the Paris Conservatoire. Gabriel Fauré was her composition teacher and she studied organ from Charles-Marie Widor. She composed in many styles and won second place for the Prix de Rome in 1908.
After Lili died in 1918, Nadia stepped away from composing and dedicated herself to teaching. She would nurture some of the greatest composers of the 20th century, including Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Virgil Thompson, Astor Piazzolla, Philip Glass, and Quincy Jones.
Nadia was also a great conductor and conducted the premiers of works by her friend Igor Stravinsky, as well as works by former students including Aaron Copland. She was innovative with programming, bringing to stage the works of Fauré, as well as older music from the Baroque period.
Nadia Boulanger was the first woman to conduct many of the major orchestras around the world. In the United States, she conducted the Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, the Washington National Symphony Orchestra. Abroad, she became the first woman to conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. In being asked what it’s like to be a female conductor, Nadia is quoted, “I’ve been a woman for a little over 50 years and have gotten over my initial astonishment. As for conducting an orchestra, that’s a job where I don’t think sex plays much part.”
Additional resources: Classic FM, WomenYouShouldKnow.net, and Bach-Cantatas.com
French Connection
What do Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and Quincy Jones have in common?…they are all were connected professionally with one French woman, Nadia Boulanger. In honor of this great teacher, composer, and conductor we toast with a “French Connection” Cocktail.
Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Cognac, 1 oz Amaretto, lemon peel for garnish. Directions: Add ingredients to a rocks glass with ice, stir gently, and garnish with a lemon peel. Enjoy!
Masterclass!
In 1977, Bruno Monsaingeon put together a documentary style film about Nadia Boulanger, who was still teaching and inspiring students at the age of 90. The film includes wonderful interviews with her as well as interviews with great composers, such as Leonard Bernstein, that learned from her. Watch the film here.
Here is another film about the great teacher, narrated by her pupil Quincy Jones. Mademoiselle: A Portrait of Nadia Boulanger. Listen to a quick interview from Quincy Jones.
Additional Listening
Opera by Nadia Boulanger and Raoul Pugno: La ville morte
Art Song: here is a collection of Boulanger’s songs sung by Mezzo Melinda Paulsen.