Ex. 7-10: Reflets

Composed in 1911 by Lili Boulanger (1893–1918) to a poem by Maurice Maeterlinck from his collection Serres chaudes (Hot Houses, 1890). Dedicated to M. and Mme Paul Gentien (Ricordi's representative in Paris).

Premiered on 6 December 1913 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, with tenor David Devriès and the composer herself at the piano. An orchestral version was premiered in 1923 by mezzo-soprano Claire Croiza.

Lili Boulanger was the first woman to win the Prix de Rome for composition (1913), with her cantata Faust et Hélène. She died at age 24 from intestinal tuberculosis, leaving a small body of work. Her older sister Nadia Boulanger became one of the most influential music teachers of the 20th century, and devoted much of her life to promoting Lili's music.