Lili Boulanger - Psalm 130 'Du fond de l'abîme' (1917)

Written a year before the death she knew was soon to come, this is a gorgeous and powerful masterpiece of orchestration
00:00 A brooding, rumbling introduction gradually grows to great intensity. (2:28) (3:16) The choir enters with intense calmness (4:29)
05:08 A hauntingly expressive plea (6:40)
08:20 The music gains agitated energy. (9:32) The pressure keeps rising until
10:02 An intensely powerful restatement of the plea (10:55)
11:11 Calmness descends upon the piece. Dark, expressive solos color the scene (12:33) The orchestra rejoins as the music picks up energy
12:59 A rhythmic drive propels the music forward into...
13:56 A gloriously powerful climax resplendent with extended chords
14:12 (15:15) A lyrical contralto solo, as the music slowly develops from uneasy to sweet and comforting [The orchestration here is just so good, especially the use of celesta and harp]
17:22 The full choir enters, shining with close moving tight harmonies
18:26 A serene grace envelops the music, a tender alto and tenor duet (19:08) More of the choir joins until...
20:00 An absolutely gorgeous climax, lovingly sweet impressionist harmonies
20:18 (20:40) The music redevelops its brooding intensity (21:20)
21:40 A final intense climax before coming to a stately ending (22:21) (22:58)

Composer: Marie-Juliette Olga "Lili" Boulanger (August 21, 1893 – March 15 , 1918)
Chorus: City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier
Soloist: Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano
Soloist: Neil MacKenzie, tenor

[Tshiknn]

how is this not performed at least once a year by a major symphony orchestra? the composer in me likes this for its unabashed juxtaposition of impressionist harmonic movement with hot late-renaissance counterpoint, but the cynic in me knows that the classical concert-going public would absolutely eat this up. seriously it has EVERYTHING a classical audience wants. this should be such a hit!

[dionbaillargeon]

She completed this work at age 22, and died a few months later. The level of sorrow, depth and craftmanship that she put into this score is astonishing for a girl that age. I'd say it's almost frightening.

[jackkupfer]

Lili Boulanger was 7 when she has lost her dad. His dad was also a composer and he won the Prix de Rome at the age of 20.
Lili grew up, she became a composer and, like him following his steps, she won the Prix de Rome at the same age.
On the sheet of this beautiful piece we can read "À mon cher Papa" (to my beloved dad).
All of this is so powerful.

[CherylMarcus]

I was Blessed to be part of a live recording performance of this moving piece. Our conductor made sure we all knew the back story of Lili, she started composing this at age 17 and was heartbroken over the loss of her father. It was announced at the event that for some legal reason we weren’t supposed to be performing & recording it, but we did it anyway. It was tough to get through it, absolutely gut-wrenching. To sing soprano and stand in the midst of the choir & orchestra is an experience I’ll never forget….my father was a conductor & came to hear us, he was weeping the entire time. At 6:40 when it’s just the men’s voices….just beautiful🙏🏻😢

[max-romano-santo]

Today, I declare that Lili Boulanger is the Ultimate Sacred Muse of All the Starving Composers.
I pay my homage to Lili, because she is the ethereal princess who enlight my decadent soul.
Greetings, from a starving chilean musician!!!

[robinblankenship]

Many composer exhaust their entire lives searching for that indescribable and ever elusive absolute expression of what words utterly fail to deliver. Lili nails it. Consider her world, in France, all eviscerated by a hideous modern war with all of its horrors.

[Sploooks]

Criminally underrated

Seriously how have I not heard this before now? Surely a composer of this level of ability and talent should be world renowned.

[helenkohler]

We have the ability to elevate what works we do have by Lili Boulanger to the status of someone like Mozart and push for her to enter into our Western Canon (though broken it is) - who knows what she could have written - but she was an incredible composer in her time and should be recognized as such instead of subjugated to constant "I wonder how great she could have been." She is a great composer, as she was.

[wondrouswords]

She would have been such a towering figure amongst musicians. My heart breaks for her. There is so much character in her work. So much originality so much love and all that at such young age. Rest in peace.

[indigo]

This slaps harder than my mom after catching me sneaking out 😔 amazing

[williamcallahan]

From the depths of the abyss (Psalm 130)

From the depths of the abyss I cry,
Yahweh Adonai.
Hear my prayer!
May your ears be attentive
To the sounds of my prayer.

If you were to take our sins into account
Who could withstand them, Yahweh?
Forgiveness is in Yahweh
And so he is revered.

My soul places its hope in Yahweh,
I hope, I count on your word
More than the night watchmen
Long for the morning.

Israel places its hope in Yahweh,
For in Yahweh is mercy,
And the fullness of redemption

It is he who will deliver Israel
From all her iniquities.
In Yahweh is mercy.
Ah! Yahweh Adonai.

[jeanmarcblanc]

Je n'ai jamais entendu l'abîme parler, dialoguer avec (nous) autant d'application. Quel immense talent!

[MousesInHouses]

I'm one of the soloists for this glorious work in a couple of weeks. What an absolute honour. Such a creative outpouring - who knows what else she might have written, and how she might have influenced 20th century music.

[bluebellsalmon]

I am so looking forward to singing this! (16 May 2025, The Barbican, London)

[gspaulsson]

Of course it's tragic that she died so young, unfulfilled promise etc., but I don't understand qualifications like "for a girl that age." By age 22, she had surely mastered technique, and in many ways we feel more deeply when we are young, before we have time to become jaded.

[KrisKringle]

Lili Boulanger was such a strong musical personality with an outstanding personal voice. It's such a regret that she died that early because I firmly believe that, If she had lived longer, her music would have had a great impact on 20th century classical music. She produced masterpieces, like this one here, and I feel like, as short as her life was, this is her definite "opus summum".

[basspoem]

This is a miracle - a great composer not only able to speak for her own suffering, but also to the suffering history of all humankind, and of what was to come.

[Scriabin_fan]

It’s a crime to music and to humanity that she isn’t as mainstream as some other composers.

[FueganTV]

Arguably her masterpiece. Also one of the best Christian-inspired musical works ever.

[CosmicPropaganda]

I'm hearing this for the first time and I'm tearing up on how beautiful and mysterious this piece is. Reminds me a bit of Scriabin but more melodic.