Meet Nadia Boulanger: the woman that unites, Thriller, Love you Live, The Look of Love, Tom Jones, one of the best pianists of his generation, all of the world’s greatest orchestras – and more.
But first, imagine this: a woman in the last 1800s, who did not have the vote, was not expected to work, was not expected to have any formal education, entering a profession which was almost exclusively male. Women had previously featured in the profession, but only as muses and competitive love interests. Now imagine that woman was more a influential than a modern-day Cathy Dennis, who inspired more artists than the Beatles, who created a bigger school of music than Motown Records. Now you’re getting close to understanding the significance of Nadia Boulanger.
If you know any modern day classical music composers, the chances are they were taught by Nadia Boulanger. And if they weren’t (she died in 1979) they will have been taught by someone who learnt from Boulanger. For example:
- John Adams (Nixon in China)
- Lennox Berkeley
- Burt Bacharach
- Aaron Copland (think love you live)
- Quincy Jones (Thriller)
- Daniel Barenboim (husband of Jacqueline Du Pre)
- John Elliot Gardiner
I don’t know what hardship, prejudice or difficulties she may have had to overcome, if indeed any at all. Clearly (if wikipedia is to be believed, she had a beneficial start to her career).
I’d like to know more about this apparently extraordinary woman and if I ever get round to writing a good historical study, this would be a good place to start. However, as it was she just came into my mind after @hubmum asked on Twitter who her child could write about during half term.
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