Boulanger to Stravinsky
Dominican Sisters Convent
Edgewood College
1000 Edgewood Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin
Monsieur I. Strawinsky
1260 North Wetherly Drive
Hollywood 46
California
July 3, 1943
Dear Friend,
Received the letter, the pages from Oedipus, the newspaper clipping—thank you. Will arrive
August 5 at 11:43 on the “Chief,” truly hoping we will have lunch together. I miss you greatly. In
the peace of this convent, in the midst of these women whose conviction makes them smile,
close to Sister Edward, I forget a little what makes everything more and more intolerable: false
values, false ambitions, false ideas. What can I say: the lack of values, the absence of ideas, and
satisfaction with this emptiness, not too foolish, not too sad.
Even here, where we are not as isolated as we were in Sinsinawa, the air still carries with it a
dust that nothing can stop.
But it is enough to go back into the Chapel, to pick up once again one of the books that remain a
mainstay, then reread one of your works, to say to one’s self that after everything, this alone
shall remain of our miserable time, deserves to endure, and will overcome our errors, our
blindness, our weaknesses.
I am so happy you are there, and what luck that the Sachses are staying in Santa Barbara! I hope
that you will come often. I need you greatly.
All my affection for Vera and for you,
Much love,
Nadia
[P.S.] Sister Edward sends you her thoughts. She prays for you every day.
Boulanger à Stravinsky
Dominican Sisters Convent
Edgewood College
1000 Edgewood Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin
Monsieur I. Strawinsky
1260 North Wetherly Drive
Hollywood 46
California
3 juillet 1943
Cher Ami,
Reçu lettre, feuilles d’Oedipus, coupure journal—merci. Arriverai le 5 août à 11:43 sur le
« Chief », espère bien que nous déjeunerons ensemble. Vous me manquez tant. Dans la paix de
ce couvent, au milieu de ces femmes que leur certitude fait souriantes, près de Sister Edward,
j’oublie un peu tout ce qui rend tout de plus en plus intolérable, fausses valeurs, fausses
ambitions, fausses idées. Que dis-je : le manque de valeurs, l’absence d’idées, et une satisfaction
devant ce néant, pas trop bête, pas trop triste.
Même ici, où l’on n’est plus isolé comme on l’était à Sinsinawa, l’air apporte encore de cette
poussière que rien n’arrête.
Mais il suffit de rentrer dans la Chapelle, de reprendre un des livres qui demeurent les piliers,
puis relire une de vos œuvres, pour se dire qu’après tout, ce qui seul demeurera de notre
misérable temps, vaut de durer, et domine nos erreurs, nos aveuglements, nos faiblesses.
Quel bonheur que vous soyez-là [sic], et quelle chance que les Sachs restent à Santa Barbara !
J’espère que vous viendrez souvent. J’ai tant besoin de vous.
Pour Vera et pour vous, toute ma tendresse.
Je vous embrasse
Nadia
[P.-S.] Sister Edward vous envoie bien des pensées. Chaque jour, elle prie pour vous.
Nadia Boulanger , “Chapter 3, 3 July 1943,” Digital Exhibits, accessed November 9, 2024, https://digex.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/show/2334.
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