Lili Boulanger - Faust et Hélène [Score]

[@Maddenhawk]

0:00 - Faust’s sleep is troubled, so Méphistophélès commands a few spirits to change his dreams. 3:50 - Faust wakes up from dreaming of the beauty of Hélène. He demands that she be brought across time and ages to understand what true beauty is. 10:04 - Méphistophélès summons Hélène from beyond the grave. 12:24 - Hélène appears. Faust is captivated by her beauty. 12:54 - Hélène is confused and frustrated that after all the troubles of her earthly life, she has been woken up again. 14:59 - She does not want to hear of Faust’s love, as she remembers the many people who died in her name, and she cannot bear for this to happen again. 18:07 - Faust is insistent and forcibly kisses Hélène. She is filled with a burning desire and suddenly becomes aware she is alive again. 20:13 - Their passion is fierce, but their union is short-lived. 23:15 - Méphistophélès shows them that a huge score of Hélène's fighters, ghostly figures covered in blood who lost their lives for her, have come to take Hélène back to her grave. 24:44 - Hélène begs Faust not to let her go. 25:11 - Faust must let her go, or he will be taken down to hell with Hélène. 27:39 - He is so enthralled by her beauty he cannot remove himself from her embrace. 28:14 - The Ghost of Paris takes Hélène. 28:28 - Faust tries to save her but is struck down by the Ghost. 28:47 - Mephisto curses Faust, as they have tempted God.

[@OMurchadha]

Not sure exactly what I was doing at 19 years old, but I can be pretty sure it wasn't composing one of the masterworks of the decade. Fighting chronic illness and chronic sexism at the same time. What a badass.

[@lylecohen1638]

When did she ever face sexism?

[@musicalaviator]

@@lylecohen1638 First ever female to win the Prix de Rome, after they rejected her 3 times. While it could be said she failed to get into the program for the first 3 times for other reasons (age for instance) - the fact that no human female had ever managed to do so before since the program began in 1663 might hint at an institution that would rather men. Interestingly enough, the composition that won her the Prix de Rome was the one you just listened to in this video.

[@lylecohen1638]

@@musicalaviator Berlioz was rejected 3 times as well, before winning. Ravel was rejected five times and never won! Does this mean they were racist against Basque people?

[@thiagoguedeswillecke7653]

Her music is so dense and evokes such complex feelings. I have a hard time figuring out how to deal with that storm. I mean... In a wonderful way!

[@brunocoliveira89]

Thank you! Finally the full score!

[@ethansmusic]

Outstanding! The orchestration is impeccable!🤌🔥

[@steveegallo3384]

Powerful Moving Virile......Some lady......BRAVA Maestra......from Mexico City!

[@OctopusContrapunctus]

im so fucking happy that someone finally put the full score. I have this exact cd and its fantastic, my fav bit is the solo of her in 16:08 its just so ✨magical✨, thank you again

[@glogordcreativo6000]

Eres un héroe sin capa, gracias por subir el score ❤🎉

[@ENDED796]

if sexism didnt exist. lili would have been the master of all.

[@Maddenhawk]

If she lived longer, then she would be much more well known

[@ShaneyElderberry]

Although skillful, I think Lili also used many similar writing features from Puccini, Debussy, and Wagner. She skillfully blended those features, but I don’t think she had exceeded everyone together. Their work combined is hardly exceeded or ‘mastered.’ You can virtually pinpoint specific operas of inspiration by the scene, e.g. when Hélène is summoned, the music nearly matches the scene of the dragon-form Fafner being awakened in the second act of Siegfried (1857-76). Several scenes in various operas have strong similarities, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Lili obviously loved opera and paraphrased moments that work well with this libretto.