Orchestration Lesson: Lili Boulanger, Part 1

A brief intro to composer Lili Boulanger and orchestral analysis of her choral work "Vieille Prière Bouddhique" (Old Buddhist Prayer). For a full biography of Lili with many musical samples, please download my Radio New Zealand Concert programme, August 19 2012 Composer of the Week:
www.radionz.co.nz/concert/prog...
Here is a link to the IMSLP.org score.
imslp.org/wiki/Vieille_prière_...)
Here are two separate versions of Vieille Prière Bouddhique. The first is slower, the second faster. It might be interesting to contrast the two, as there really is no wrong way to play this between those two speeds - faster has more energy, slower has more grandeur. The first version is a better recording, however, with better balance, a larger ensemble, and a nice open acoustic space.
• Lili Boulanger: Veille...
• Lili Boulanger: Vieill...

[@VallaMusic]

omg - imagine what music we would have if Lili's life had been longer

[@Scriabinfan593]

Val Lamon it’s like the universe robbed us out of all the wonderful music she would’ve composed

[@subashsitaula9522]

Lili Boulanger's The Sirenes is one of my favourite piece to listen. Rest in heaven lili... You are not forgotten, people like me are listening your masterpiece everyday.

[@johnnyliteral]

As somebody with Crohn's disease who just discovered Lili Boulanger's work, I would like to thank you for making note of that which affected her life and music. This video begins with an incredibly considerate take on how Lili's health affected all that she did. What you say brings great dignity to the act of creation under the pressures of our own mortality. That is what I feel in her work: humble, though immense dignity paired with a love for life that immortalizes the music she left for us.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Okay, wow, the video's only been up for 22 hours, and there are already 101 likes! I'm so happy that this video is useful to so many viewers, and I promise you a followup in one week.

[@edgenovese]

She just rocks it ! How do they hear that 100 years before anyone else !!! And at 22-24 Please ...None of us are worthy... a true Giant....God bless her and all the forgotten Greats...oh did I mention 23????...I have to sit down now and breathe.. Ed G

[@OrchestrationOnline]

A sawtooth wave is the basic fundamental waveform of most instruments. Some, though, are more based on square waves, like clarinets and flutes. Clarinets, because of their cylindrical shape, favor odd partials. And some instruments like horns and bassoons combine characteristics of both, making them ideal for reinforcing and blending. The thing to keep in mind is that Lili B was an organist, and thought in terms of combining tones, like a flute stop and a tibia. It's the same principle at work.

[@windstorm1000]

I love Lili--she had enormous courage and immensely talented--imagine composing while you're sick most of the time--she did it. Merci Madmoiselle Artiste!!

[@Kowjja]

I'm glad i found this channel! As a beginner composer with little knowledge in orchestration this will truly help

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Okay: the overtones of the low strings reinforce the concert G of the first horn, without doubling it. Then the complex overtones of the horns reinforce both the sawtooth sound of the tenors, and the square-wave sound of the clarinets. The upper partials of the horn and lower partials of the tenors reinforce the sopranos, while the odd partials of the clarinets build on all of this to trick the ear into hearing notes above that. This only works because everyone is playing an open 5th.

[@jacksonelmore6227]

I’ve been taking an hour long midi piano piece and orchestrating it now after composing for four years! Super excited and a reason I’m binge watching your channel! you and Samuel Andreyev have also helped me get into Lili, keep up your good work because it is much appreciated and I take so much value away for free!

[@nickmaestro]

Thanks for sharing the work of Lili Boulanger. Its unfortunate her life ended too soon. Even during undergrad studies, Lili is breifly discussed, normally overshadowed by Debussy, Faure, Ravel, and sometimes Saint-Saens. I totally love the ethereal and tonally ambiguous textures Lili creates when the choir functions as an orchestra. Awesome stuff Thomas, I'll definitely take a listen to Old Buddhist Prayer.

[@timflatus]

Ok, you got my subs 4 mins in. I've never actually listened to any of Lili Boulanger's work. I got it instantly, totally. Just taking a deep breath before plunging back in ...

[@TEMAOHI2787]

I'M SHOCKED!!! Thank You so VERY much for this!!! I LOVE HER!! I discovered her in 2000 on the radio. The piece was "D'un Matin de Printemps", that , and her other works effect me physically, not just musically. It's like an "Out-of-body" experience!! I HOPE you get more positive responses!!!! It hurts my HEART she died so young. I'd give her 10 years of my life if I could. Debussy and Ravel are my hero's as well. Please, PLEASE, P-L-E-A-S-E. more Lili!!

[@sirasy]

thank you for this video!I LOVE music by LILI BOULANGER

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Hadn't even thought about it! The scheduling was all my producer's idea, to coincide with a special "Belle Époque Week." Good coincidence, though...

[@martingravel1157]

Just a plain heartfelt thank Mr Goss : this music is absolutely magnificent.

[@AndrewCarterBaker]

I can't thank you enough for turning me onto to the music of Lili Boulanger. It is difficult to understand how she remained unknown to me for so many years.

[@womensphil]

It's because of patriarchy, Andrew -- women have been cut out of music history and relegated to the sidelines. Women's Philharmonic Advocacy works to recover their legacy. And thank you to OrchestrationOnline

[@robertgoff9051]

After this...I don't know if I can find my way to a I Chord. Three years of theory, Half a lifetime making money in different venues with bassoon, contrabass, electric bass and arranging, a love and passion for music I don't have words for, only to realize I know nothing. Thank You so much for your channel.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Thanks for your very humble and original comment! :) Lili humbles us all.

[@tylerpedraja6049]

Wow, I had only heard Boulanger's organ music before, and always thought I didn't like it. But this is incredible, and you've made a fan out of me.

[@katiehoi-chingtang2825]

Dear creator, I’m a high school music student in Hong Kong and I’m going to study composition for my bachelor degree. I appreciate Lily’s music and the special sense of emotions which I can never find in other composers. Thanks for your video for introducing her and let me know more about her life and music. I will keep on watching your videos about score analysis in my spare time.

[@tedwilks]

FANTASTIC series! Thank you SO much for taking the time and trouble to create and upload all eleven videos. It is one of life's ironies that such a gifted composer died so tragically young.

[@dtorrez2242]

What an incredible series! Appreciative, close criticism like this really inspires other composers to get to work. Thanks!

[@thomasbryla]

Like like like! Thank you Thomas both for sharing what you pick up from such a score and for drawing attention to a composer like this!

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Cheers, Steve! I'll put it on the list...

[@drazlet]

I know this is nearly a decade old, but I’ve been thinking about arranging Sous-bois for strings. It’ll be my first time arranging something, so I’ve been looking at everything related to her and her orchestration, so this is a god send. Thank you.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

You're welcome! Sounds like a great project. Lili would be proud to know her music was inspiring more composers a century later.

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

You are a master at revealing an uncelelebrated masterpiece to our present day. Your knowledge and honest charisma make you a messenger sent by the highest power. Bless you in your beautiful country forever!

[@OrchestrationOnline]

I always feel that dislikes say more about the one who pressed the button, and less about the video itself.

[@Zeupater]

@OrchestrationOnline I don’t get how someone could leave a dislike on this.

[@LesterBrunt]

Some dislikes are by accident. Just by pure chance out of a hundred or so people somebody has to hit dislike by accident and doesn’t see it or forgets about it.

[@billklemm7284]

I'm late to the Lili party but man I'm hooked on her music.

[@johnsheridan3566]

if she had lived longer it would have been amazing to see what else she would have composed

[@ekebreau]

I love the way you explain the orchestration techniques in this marvelous piece of work. Thank you for all your wonderful tutelage.

[@authenticbaguette6673]

"The missing leg of triangle which includes Debussy and Ravel" that's such an accurate description tbh

[@olivierherment1188]

Merci beaucoup eleven years after your work permits me to learn and discover Lili Boulanger. In first KZbin proposed me the score of " Soir sur la plaine". Merci

[@ygoramaro5637]

Great Job Thomas, I loved know Lili Boulanger music, i simply awesome. Your orchestration lesson are amazing.

[@soundtreks]

This is a truly wonderful series Thomas and one that I've actively endorsed to fellow composers and musicians alike as there's so much substantive material anyone pursuing composition can benefit from. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I would not have ever discovered this amazing composer were it not for your channel.

[@nikolajbentzon7554]

Great, personal, heart-felt yet "unsentimental" analysis. Very inspiring. Thank you, Sir :-)

[@christycm5946]

I found this extremely valuable, thank you! Love her music!

[@IvanDBeltran]

I was looking forward for an episode like this one, I donot have enough words to say thank you. Greetings from Colombia.

[@ChristopherFryman]

Thank you Thomas for this new thing to do. A remedy for present life.

[@premchandkancharla]

Grate motivation I got. Thank you Thomas for your Video and The detailed Audio Biography about this grate composer Lili Boulanger.

[@Maxpianoplaying]

I had never heard about Lili Boulanger before, thank you for your videos, i learn so much with them.

[@MsFantasy13]

This is so informative and wonderful. Thank you for spending the time to do this!

[@maxcohen13]

The 5ths create the broad, almost hollow effect that reminds me so much of the overtone series. I love that feel. It certainly reminds me of one of my favs - Hindemith. Glad to see you're shedding light on Lili like this. My first composition teacher was a student of Nadia's and that was the first time I heard of her sister. It was around the time I was studying organ, and I was both fascinated and heart-broken that she didn't leave a bigger body of work for her main instrument as well!

[@luoshengying]

thank you for introducing this extraordinary young woman.

[@alempmartins]

Thanks so much for this video, I'm amazed by her music.

[@agustinloreto5829]

Thanks for making this video and all your other ones. And thanks for choosing this Lili for this studies. Please keep doing these orchestration tutorials.

[@OrchestrationOnline]

As I say in the credits, "D'un matin de printemps" (Of a Spring Morning). Please listen to the Radio New Zealand feature to learn more about this piece and how it was composed.

[@stalemate2001]

This video is excellent! Thanks for sharing your knowledge once again and posting it.

[@MortenMalvik_Composer]

Amazing lesson! I listened with great interrest. I now need to listen to more of this composer. Looking forward to part II!

[@charlesdavis7087]

Thank you. This is GREAT... with a capital G. You've opened a whole new world for me. CVD

[@ramesh0785]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and precious time...

[@monsecarpediem]

This video was great! I'm not a musician so I was a bit intimidated in the beginning but you really made it possible even more musically-illiterate people to get it. I'm definitely exploring more of her work. Thank you.

[@nembeasialv2013]

Great lesson , thanks from Fernando Figueroa , Doble bassist and student of composition from Ciudad de México

[@skipstream2]

Thanks Thomas, that was very informative. More importantly, thanks for introducing me to yet another amazing composer that I had not yet discovered.

[@Kosmo999]

WOW!!!! I thought ive seen you around Wellington!!! What an amazing channel and pool of knowledge thanks for making it all public!

[@macronencer]

Thank you so much for making this video! Absolutely breathtaking stuff.

[@AoiichiNiiSan]

What a return to form! It's been a while since you posted a purely educational video but as you put it they're back with a vengeance. You put a lot of time and effort into these, and honestly, a lot of people pay out the ass for a degree or private tuition and barely receieve a comparable amount of detail but you do it for no monetary benefit.

[@pebberbrown]

Goss you are the MAN!!! What an utterly FANTASTIC video! I am hooked!

[@yanizle]

I can't thank you enough for this video post. Thank you very much!

[@Composer1992]

Thank you for making such an informative video! The things you drew attention to were really interesting, and it's exactly the kind of orchestration video I love to see.

[@jeanmoussa1194]

Merci pour ces excellentes explications ! merci de faire connaître cette compositrice !

[@Elintasokas]

Wow, this is a great piece! Brilliant analysis too. Thanks for sharing.

[@grofinet]

Excellent as always!

[@scoreguy1111]

YES!!! What a great post Mr. Goss!! Thank you!!

[@HAEngel-cr5gp]

Brilliant presentation! Thank you.

[@FilipSandecomposer]

A very interesting and usefull lesson, thanks for posting!

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Check back in tomorrow...I've been shooting and editing all day on it.

[@palcsibankschuler8471]

Thank you so much for introducing me to this wonderful composer : )

[@caiogracco9129]

So sweet of you. thanks!

[@artofcomposing]

Great video. I love learning about composers I was not aware of. Keep it up!

[@LesterBrunt]

Wow this really hits home. I suffer from UC, they call it Chrons little brother. Have been admitted to the hospital once and without modern medicine I don’t think I would have made it that time. I will spare you the details but when I was admitted I weighed only 110lbs (I’m a 6ft male) and was severely anemic to the point where I almost needed a blood transfusion. It is a horrible way to go.

[@luisfeliperey]

Amazing lessons!! Thank you Thomas

[@vox4pax]

A wonderful lesson Thomas!

[@mateojamesmusic]

Thanks a lot for this! You did a fantastic job of detailed analysis.

[@WalidFeghali]

Awesome. Thanks a bunch for the explanation, should exist more tutors like you around here!

[@dankarlsberg1]

Thanks for posting this! This is one of my favorite of Lili's compositions. I am a jazz pianist, and recorded a version of this with a jazz quartet (featuring flautist, Sandy Suskind). You can hear a sample from it on iTunes, Amazon, or CDbaby. Just search for "Vieille Prière Bouddhique Dan Karlsberg"

[@cjdarnieder]

Oh man, I love this! Please please please make a follow up to this wonderful composition/composer! Those of you watching, LIKE this!

[@WalidFeghali]

Excellent video! When you were discussing the stack of fifths with the basses, cellos, horns, tenors and clarinets and sopranos; All instruments and voicings have overtones, why was this setup so special? Keep up the videos, very educational and inspirative.

[@MikeyIV]

Thomas, this is exactly what I wanted, thank you. Please make more videos like this, it was very interesting. BTW, the opening whole tone melody to the piece sounds very spanish and almost sounds like a phyrigian mode to me.

[@ZappaIrl]

Fantastic! I've never heard of this composer, but will investigate further. Thanks.

[@kenrmetz]

Yes this is very wonderful! Encore! Thanks

[@paulvawter8205]

absolutely brilliant. please tell me you are a shaper of young minds at some university and not just a man posting youtube videos. i dont understand how your vidoes dont have more views please keep them coming

[@EnrichedPu]

Thanks for sharing! Thanks for your time! :)

[@SharmaYelverton]

Amazing music. Great tutorial.

[@MarcSofia]

The correct link to the Radio NZ program is: www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/composeroftheweek/20120819 and the audio is still available to listen to.

[@biessar]

great finale!!!

[@aleacosta1973]

Excelente análisis!!!

[@JohnCoyneMusic]

More videos like this! Please!

[@bernardoantelo4763]

Love it!

[@Ayokalyb]

Absolutely. Especially when there is a 321 to 1 majority. Anyway, on behalf of the youtube community, thanks for the insightful video(s). Its always a treat to get a brief glimpse into the mind of a professional.

[@riffraftmusic8669]

I've enjoyed IMSLP for years-- the most incredible resource! And this is a great video; thanks for all the thoughtful insights into this intricate piece, AND for showcasing this wonderful composer! Is there a list anywhere of the "lost composers of the 20th century" you mentioned near the beginning? My only problem with IMSLP is that "modern" works (e.g., Khatchaturian's) are not available on it, due to copyright issues. (There's so much that IS there, it's really not an issue.)

[@nancymounir]

Thank you very much !!!

[@WalidFeghali]

I will analyze this in my DAW with a frequency spectrum analyzer, that would probably bring me more understanding to this. The one thing I'm confused about is what the nature of the sound image (square, sawtooth) has to do with reinforcing the other instruments. I do know that the harmonics of an instrument is what differ all instruments apart, even if they share the same fundamental note, but say for example why couldn't trombones do the same job for the horns? Great answer though, thanks.

[@saintsaens21]

Great insights, thanks.

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Thank you for a brilliant analysis. Each detail proved a superb composer to be discovered. Nonetheless, the work did not capture me. Of great interest, certainly. In 2017 great interest cannot captivate a concert hall audience as it once was able. As former student of Mademoiselle I thank you for your expertise.

[@sergeystern]

Great video! Please, do more of those analysis of scores clips! Maybe even you could add a few interesting film composers to your future analysis list - it could be very interesting :)

[@sirasy]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the URL of IMSLP suggestion!I was already wondering where I could find the scores?!!!THANK YOU!!!I have already printed it, also the Psaume CXXIX and CXXX that I love!

[@karlbaudoin]

Well done, thanks.

[@MrInterestingthings]

Wow , if only more composer-teacher's would show us forgotten beauties that have so much good sense , good music and craft to teach. All this high-level work and she matured only to 24. No wonder her sister is so famous they must have both been diligent ,creative and insanely brilliant. /can any of us name anyone who didnt study with Nadia B. Watching this many times over . I guess I better get to really know the 7 pedals and tunings of the harp.

[@Nammedit]

Fantaaaaaaaastic! Thanks A LOT!!

[@JacksonParodi]

very excellent! Thanks so much for this vid. It's given me a lot to think about and I'm definitely checking out the piece. It's good to see another OO video. :-)