O Sister, Where Art Thou?

I have been fortunate indeed in my siblings.  I have two older brothers that I worshipped and adored (when I wasn't fighting them...) but just one sister.  I would sign her birthday cards, "Love, your favorite sister," to which she always replied, "I'm your only sister."  My sister and I are three and a half years apart, which was just enough for me to feel superior during those difficult teenage years.  But I always knew who was really the kinder, gentler, nicer human being.  When my parents would buy us both a candy bar, I would hide mine in my top drawer to sneak bites in private while she would break hers in half and give part to me.  If I was sick or just to tired to get off the couch she would bring me drinks, crackers, whatever I needed.  And in return for all this kindness, I suspect I was probably a supercilious jerk.

Not so, Nadia Boulanger, the most famous composition teacher of the 20th century.  She had a younger sister, Lili, for whom she solemnly promised at the age of 6 to care and protect.  Nadia aspired to be a composer, but it soon became evident that Lili had the greater talent.  Nadia nurtured and encouraged that talent.  A very young Lili accompanied Nadia to her music lessons and Nadia was her first composition teacher.  These efforts were not wasted as Lili became an outstanding composer of beautiful, delicate music with sweeping lines and passionate melodies.  Listen to this lovely Nocturne.  It is an excellent example of Lili's skill in controlling lush, post-romantic harmonies.  After Lili's early death at the age of 24, Nadia continued to program, perform, and promote her sister's music for the rest of her life.  Upon Nadia's death in 1979 at the age of 92 she was laid to rest in the same tomb as Lili, united once more.

Music proved to be the touchstone for my sister and me as well.  After I went off to college to study music and gain some maturity (thank heaven!) my sister and I became much closer.  We played Billy Joel together, her on the guitar and me banging away on the piano.  We played trumpet duets together, at which I was so terrible that she could hardly form an embouchure for laughing.  Most fun of all, I think, we sang harmony together, our particular favorite being an old Harry Belafonte song we heard on the Muppet Show in our childhood.  These opportunities to make music forged a lasting bond.

To create any work of art with another human being is to open your soul and share a piece of it.  This is a beautiful thing.  I now have many sisters from all walks of life who sculpt, paint, write, sing, direct plays, act in plays, play the piano, the list is endless.  As I have collaborated with each one I have changed and grown in ways that I didn't know I could.  This is the joy of the artistic sisterhood.  It doesn't matter if you consider yourself artistic or not, you can still experience this joy in the creation of a  meal or planting a garden.  There are many forms of expression, and they are all enhanced when they are shared with others.

So find a sister.  Take her under your wing.  Share your life and bless hers.  Nadia would be proud.

Lili Boulanger

Nadia Boulanger