20th century and todayNadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was born in Paris.
Nadia Boulanger’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1887👶 Birth
Born in Paris on 16 September; her father, a composer, is 72
- 1897📚 Trainingage 10
Enters the Paris Conservatoire aged 10
- 1908🎩 Careerage 21
Second Grand Prix de Rome
- 1912🎼 Workage 25
Fantaisie variée for piano and orchestra
- 1912🌍 Meanwhile
The Titanic sinks
- 1914🎼 Workage 27
Three Pieces for cello and piano
- 1918❤️ Private lifeage 31
Death of her sister Lili; she gradually stops composing
- 1921🎩 Careerage 34
Teaches at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau
- 1940🧳 Journeyage 53
Spends the war in the United States
- 1948🌍 Meanwhile
The long-playing record (LP) goes on sale
- 1957🌍 Meanwhile
Sputnik, the first artificial satellite
- 1964🌍 Meanwhile
Robert Moog presents his synthesizer
- 1979🕯️ Deathage 92
Dies in Paris on 22 October, aged 92
Listen to the music
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Nadia Boulanger’s music is still recent: it belongs to its creators and their families. Ask a grown-up to play it for you on the radio or at a concert!
Once upon a time…
Nadia Boulanger was born in Paris. Her dad, a composer, was already seventy-two! As a little girl she hated music and hid when she heard the piano… then suddenly she loved it.
She entered the Conservatoire at ten and became a great organist. She also composed, but she thought her little sister Lili was far more talented. After Lili died, she decided to devote herself to teaching.
She became the most famous music teacher in the world! Hundreds of pupils came from everywhere to learn with her, like Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson’s producer. She was also one of the first women conductors.
She taught until she was ninety-two.
Nadia Boulanger’s instruments
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