The word awe-inspiring is often used as a hyperbole, but in this case I really think it adequately describes Mlle. Boulanger. If you consider her influence over

The word awe-inspiring is often used as a hyperbole, but in this case I really think it adequately describes Mlle. Boulanger. If you consider her influence over the 20th century, she surely ranks among the greatest pedagogues in the entire western classical tradition of music. And of course, there are endless fascinating anecdotes from her pupils and colleagues. There's a video of Elliott Carter talking about how she used to sing and play through a Bach cantata every week with her students[1]. Charles Rosen, who served as a panelist together with her at a piano competition observed: >Mlle. Boulanger did not, indeed, discuss the contestants, but she had ways of making her opinions known. When she was bored by a performance, she would compose canons. On a large piece of paper she had brought with her, she would rule several five-line staffs, and begin to invent some elaborate counterpoint. The implied comment was far more devastating than any words could have been. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz3PTNOVLuM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz3PTNOVLuM