10 facts you might not know about Lili Boulanger

Fri 17 Oct, 2025

Composer, prodigy and pioneer: Lili Boulanger broke barriers and left a lasting mark on the world of classical music. Discover the story behind the trailblazing composer who changed the course of 20th-century music.

1. Musical dynasty

Marie-Juliette ‘Lili’ Boulanger was born on 21 August 1893 into a powerhouse of music. Her father, Ernest Boulanger, was a Prix de Rome-winning composer and conductor, and her mother, Raissa Myshetskaya, was a Russian princess-turned-singer.

Her paternal grandparents were musicians too. Her grandfather, Frédéric Boulanger, was a celebrated cellist, and her grandmother, Juliette Boulanger, was a mezzo-soprano at the Théâtre de l’Odéon in Paris.

2. Talented instrumentalist

From an early age, Lili displayed extraordinary talent – so much so that family friend and composer Gabriel Fauré remarked on her natural musical abilities and perfect pitch. She studied piano, violin, cello and harp, though the piano soon became her main instrument. Alongside her older sister Nadia, Lili was encouraged by her parents to explore composition as well, laying the groundwork for a truly groundbreaking career.

3. Prix de Rome pioneer

At just 19, Lili Boulanger made history. After a first attempt cut short by illness, she returned the following year and won the prestigious Prix de Rome for her cantata Faust et Hélène. The prize, one of France’s highest honors for composers, offered recognition, a scholarship, and the opportunity to study at the Villa Medici in Rome. Lili became the first woman ever to win, earning overwhelming support from the judges.

4. Groundbreaking composer

Lili Boulanger’s music was both emotionally powerful and technically brilliant. Her compositions often carry a deep sense of longing and melancholy, shaped in part by the grief she felt after her father’s death. She was also hugely inspired by the late-Romantic composers like Debussy and Wagner. Judges at the Prix de Rome were impressed by her originality, rich harmonies and the emotional intensity she could convey.

5. The Roman chapter

Winning the Prix de Rome earned Lili a residency at the Villa Medici in Rome. There, she focused on composition and developed larger projects, including the beginnings of her opera La Princesse Maleine. Her time in Italy exposed her to new artistic influences and gave her space to refine her voice as a composer, though her stay was cut short by the outbreak of World War I.

6. The War years

World War I deeply shaped Lili Boulanger’s life and music. It was during these years that she composed some of her most powerful works, including Pour les funérailles d’un soldat – a moving reflection on loss and sacrifice. Together with her sister Nadia, she also co-founded the Comité Franco-Américain du Conservatoire, an organisation that supported musicians affected by the war and built lasting connections between French and American artists.

7. A gift for song

Lili had a special love for vocal music. Her songs, like Les sirènes and the cycle Clairières dans le ciel, show her incredible ability to turn poetry into music. Every phrase feels personal and heartfelt, as if she’s speaking directly through the notes. Her sensitivity to words and melody made her one of the most expressive vocal composers of her time.

8. Sisterly support

Nadia Boulanger played a pivotal role in her sister’s musical journey. A composer, instrumentalist and teacher in her own right, she was one of Lili’s strongest advocates and the sisters collaborated on several musical projects.

In her short life, Lili struggled with chronic illness and, after her untimely death in 1918, Nadia devoted herself to preserving and promoting her sister’s music, making sure Lili’s remarkable works were not forgotten.

9. Pie Jesu: Lili’s final work

In the final months of her life, as Lili Boulanger’s chronic illnesses took a heavier toll, she composed her last work, Pie Jesu. Too weak to write it down herself, she dictated the piece to her sister, Nadia, who carefully notated it. Even in her final days, Lili’s gift for penning moving music shone through, leaving a lasting testament to her talent and emotional depth.

10. Enduring legacy

Lili Boulanger’s influence stretches far beyond her lifetime. Through her sister Nadia – who went on to teach some of the 20th century’s greatest composers, from Aaron Copland to Philip Glass – Lili’s spirit and musical innovations lived on. Today, her works are increasingly performed and recorded, securing her place among the great composers of her era.