Philip Glass and La Boulangerie – Settling Scores

In his recently published memoirs, Words Without Music (2015), the American minimalist composer Philip Glass tells the story of a lesson in musical counterpoint he had one afternoon with the formidable Nadia Boulanger. After proffering his 20 page manuscript, Mademoiselle (as she was known) placed it on the piano’s music rack and cast her eyes over the densely written pages. At a certain point she paused, drew breath and enquired after his health. “Not sick, no headache, no problems at home?” “No Mlle. Boulanger, I am really fine.” “Would you like to see a physician or a psychiatrist? It can be arranged very confidentially.” “No Mlle. Boulanger.” She wheeled her chair around and screamed “Then how do you explain this?” She had found “hidden fifths” between an alto and bass part – a heinous crime, if ever there were one. After upbraiding him for his slackness and lack of commitment he was dismissed and the lesson was over. Nadia Boulanger had a reputation as a stern teacher, relentless

In his recently published memoirs, Words Without Music (2015), the American minimalist composer Philip Glass tells the story of a lesson in musical counterpoint he had one afternoon with the formidable Nadia Boulanger. After proffering his 20 page manuscript, Mademoiselle (as she was known) placed it on the piano’s music rack and cast her eyes over the densely written pages. At a certain point she paused, drew breath and enquired after his health. “Not sick, no headache, no problems at home?” “No Mlle. Boulanger, I am really fine.” “Would you like to see a physician or a psychiatrist? It can b