Marie-Juliette Olga "Lili" Boulanger (Aug. 21, 1893 - March 15, 1918) was a French composer, and  the younger sister of the famed composition teacher/composer Nadia Boulanger. Born in Paris, Lili Boulanger was a child prodigy; at the age of two, it was discovered that she had perfect pitch. Her parents, both musicians, encouraged her musical education, and she would accompany her sister Nadia to classes at the Paris Conservatory, studying music theory and organ. Her sister Nadia was one of her teachers, and later on studied with Paul Vidal, George Caussade, and Gabriel Faure, who was particularly impressed by her abilities. Lili would go on to win the Prix de Rome at the age of 19; she was the first woman to ever win the composition prize. Boulanger's compositional output was not insignificant, and wrote for many types of ensembles, and solo literature for instruments as well. Cortège, for violin and piano, was written in June of 1914. This was following a few years of very poor health, including contracting measles from her sister, and she wrote Cortège during her recovery. The mood of this work is incredibly cheerful and upbeat; quite the opposite of her recovery! The violin part is graceful and elegantly stated, as is the piano part, and though the work is short, it's a delightful piece of French impressionism.

Here's some recordings of this work for you to enjoy!

Cristina Ariagno
Joseph Roche