Chapter 2, 12 April 1939

Title

Chapter 2, 12 April 1939

Subject

Igor Stravinsky

Creator

Nadia Boulanger

Date

12 April 1939

Source

Paul Sacher Stiftung

Type

Letter

Extracted Text

Boulanger to Stravinsky
Gerry’s Landing
Cambridge
Mr. Igor Strawinsky
Sancellemoz
Haute Savoie
France
April 12, 1939
I think of you every hour of the day and am saddened not to be able to prove it to you even a
little bit.
Denise wrote me the most moving and tender letter you could imagine. Thank her for me. What
a heart she has!
These words are improper, and I cannot say anything to you. But every day I understand your
importance a little more, and I pray to God that you understand it, too. Perhaps you will find the
courage to fight on. But . . . I know, and I know that time cannot heal such wounds. However, it
seems to me that the memory of Catherine, her dear soul, will remain around you. Like a
blessing, without a word, I would like to comfort you and cry with you.
Time now moves so terribly slowly with work and wears on my heart, but I will be there in July.
Then I will come to you.
To have succeeded with the Harvard plan would have been a joy—maybe next year! May God
give you strength—we are all praying so fervently for you, and I remain connected to you by the
deepest sentiments of which I am capable,
Your
NB
Boulanger à Stravinsky
Gerry’s Landing
Cambridge
Monsieur Igor Strawinsky
Sancellemoz
Haute Savoie
France
12 avril 1939
Je pense à vous à chaque heure de la journée et suis malheureuse de ne pouvoir pas même vous
le prouver un peu.
Denise m’a écrit la plus émouvante et tendre lettre que je puisse imaginer. Remerciez-la pour
moi quel cœur elle a !
Ces mots sont gauches, et je ne peux rien vous dire. Mais je conçois chaque jour un peu plus
votre importance, et je prie Dieu de vous la faire mesurer. Vous trouverez peut-être alors le
courage de lutter. Mais…Je sais, et je sais que le temps ne ferme pas de telles blessures.
Pourtant, il me semble que le souvenir de Catherine, la chère âme, demeure autour de vous.
Comme une bénédiction—que je voudrais, sans mot dire, vous embrasser, et pleurer près de
vous.
Ce temps qui, pour le travail, fait si terriblement, est si long pour le cœur, mais je serai là, en
Juillet [sic], je viendrai alors.
Avoir réussi la combinaison Harvard avait été une joie—peut-être l’année prochaine ! Que Dieu
vous soutienne—nous prions tous, avec tant de ferveur, et je vous demeure attachée par les plus
profonds sentiments que je puisse éprouver.
Votre
NB

Files

Citation

Nadia Boulanger, “Chapter 2, 12 April 1939,” Digital Exhibits, accessed December 22, 2024, https://digex.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/show/2287.

Item Relations

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