Composer

:

Lili Boulanger

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:44

Lili Boulanger was a French composer who lived from 1893 to 1918. She was the first woman to win the Prix de Rome, a prestigious composition prize, in 1913. One of her most famous works is "Nous nous aimerons tant," a song for voice and piano. "Nous nous aimerons tant" was composed in 1916, during World War I. It was premiered in Paris in 1917, with the composer's sister, Nadia Boulanger, accompanying on the piano. The song has three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is marked "Très lent" (very slow) and is in a minor key. The piano sets the mood with a mournful melody, and the voice enters with a simple, haunting melody. The lyrics, written by the composer's friend Raoul Ponchon, describe the pain of separation and the hope of reunion: "We will love each other so much / That the distance will be nothing / And we will find each other again / In the same place, in the same hour." The second movement is marked "Assez lent" (quite slow) and is in a major key. The piano introduces a gentle, flowing melody, and the voice enters with a more complex melody that builds to a climax. The lyrics describe the joy of being reunited: "We will love each other so much / That our hearts will beat as one / And we will forget everything / In the sweetness of our embrace." The third movement is marked "Très lent" (very slow) and returns to the minor key of the first movement. The piano plays a mournful melody, and the voice enters with a simple, repetitive melody that gradually fades away. The lyrics describe the pain of separation once again: "We will love each other so much / That the distance will be nothing / But when we must part again / Our hearts will break in two." Overall, "Nous nous aimerons tant" is a deeply emotional work that reflects the composer's own experiences of love and loss during a time of war. The music is simple and direct, with a focus on melody and harmony rather than complex textures or rhythms. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, capturing the intense emotions of the lovers in the song.

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