Nadia Boulanger: Mélodies, Vol.3: Chant et Piano

The reissue of Nadia Boulanger's melodies is a joyous event for musicians worldwide who hold an indelible memory of her. This homage highlights her discreet talent as a composer, often overshadowed by her renowned career as a pedagogue. Interest in French music from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries has surged in recent years, leading to increased recordings, radio and concert programming, festivals, and scholarly works. Nadia Boulanger composed approximately fifty works, including orchestral pieces, an opera, choral music, chamber music, and around thirty melodies. While her manuscripts are held at the French National Library's Music Department, only a portion has been published, primarily by Hamelle starting in 1909. Nadia Boulanger's compositions reflect a meticulous craft and aesthetic values emphasizing clarity, subtlety, and elegance, with a disdain for sentimentality. Despite her slow compositional pace and self-criticism, her works gained recognition, particularly among Parisian musical elites. Three volumes of melodies present a chronological journey of Nadia Boulanger's compositions, shedding light on her versatile artistry and profound contributions to French music.