Dedicated to
Lili Boulanger, the third episode of Franck Mallet’s “Rhythm and Reason” series, broadcast on September 29, 1993, invites Olivia Mattis and Annegret Fauser to explore the composer’s vocal work, a work still too little known. Annegret Fauser recalls that Lili Boulanger was born into a dynasty of musicians.
Annegret Fauser: “Lili Boulanger breathed music since childhood”
“As a child, she sang when
Gabriel Fauré sat down at the piano in the family living room. His musical ability was recognized early on. Lili Boulanger had been breathing music since her childhood. Music was like a game for her.” But, in the choice of her texts and subjects, she has an opening towards melancholy which is conditioned by the
First World War. There
music allows him to transcend his suffering. ” His artistic concern is above all that of instrumental color and harmonic color. »
Olivia Mattis: “All of Lili Boulanger’s music has a part of melancholy”
For Olivia Mattis, the
music by Lili Boulanger is plural. She wrote both religious music and chamber music without a spiritual tone. All his compositions contain a part of melancholy, even his lightest works. After the death of Lili Boulanger in 1918, a legend was born around her person, making her a cursed composer torn from life by an illness that would have colored her entire work. In 1923, concerts were given in Paris in his homage. The influence of Lili Boulanger then emerges, particularly in the work of
Arthur Honegger.
- By Franck Mallet
- With musicologists: Olivia Mattis and Annegret Fauser
- Directed by Marie-Cécile Mazzoni
- Rhythm and reason – Lili Boulanger composer, 1893-1918: Part 3/5: the vocal work (1st broadcast: 09/29/1993)
- Web edition: Documentation of Radio France
- Archive Ina-Radio France
Nights of France Culture
29 mins
