Helen Crayford
presents
The Nadia Boulanger Experience
Nadia Boulanger - a name that can still inspire a mixture of admiration and fear in generations of ex-music students! Many books, articles and recordings have testified to the genius of this remarkable teacher, who had such an impact on the course of 20th century music and musical life. Through her American School at Fontainebleau, she had a profound influence on the majority of the nation's composers and teachers. In addition, she notched up an impressive list of 'firsts', including first woman to conduct several major US orchestras, and first person to discover and record the works of Monteverdi. Her enthusiasm for music extended from the Middle Ages right up to the present day, the only prerequisite being quality.
However, people still might wonder what Nadia Boulanger was really like as a person; how did her teaching methods differ from more conventional colleagues; why was she such an inspiration to be with?
Helen Crayford is in an ideal position to answer these questions, having been one of Nadia Boulanger's very few British private students. Helen had gone through a degree course at Cambridge, followed by postgraduate study at the Royal College of Music, but in 1976 she felt the urge to go to Nadia in Paris and meet the great lady in person.
Nadia Boulanger was already 89 years old and had been teaching in her apartment a mere 72 years! Although Helen was not a composer, she was heartily welcomed, and proceeded to have nine months of weekly lessons, taking along all her favourite piano repertoire and simply playing to Nadia, possibly the most critical pair of ears on the planet! There was also the opportunity to attend the celebrated 'Wednesday afternoons', analysis classes that were set up by Nadia Boulanger in 1905.
Helen's lecture reveals how every aspect of Nadia Boulanger's life was extraordinary, not least the continuity over many years that would be impossible in today's changing world.
As a prelude to Helen Crayford's experiences in Paris, the lecture tells of the Boulanger family prior to Nadia - a story stranger than any novel. Above all, much importance is given to Nadia's sister, Lili, the talented composer who died tragically young, and to the ways their lives profoundly affected each other.
To enhance this gripping account, Helen plays piano music by Lili; she also uses recordings of both sisters' work. An enthralling evening is promised!
Helen Crayford: Diary Highlights | The Crayford Duo
Helen Crayford's biography | Marcia Crayford's biography | Rags To Riches