Psalm 130 – Du fond de l’Abime (De profundis)

Lili Boulanger's "Psalm 130 – Du fond de l'Abîme" was composed between 1914 and 1917 and is considered one of the most significant works by the composer, who died shortly before her 25th birthday. The work demonstrates Boulanger's characteristic fusion of late Romantic harmony with impressionistic tonal colors, typical of French music of her generation. The large-scale composition for soloists, chorus, and orchestra reveals a mature musical language that, despite its modernity, remains deeply rooted in French tradition.

The musical setting of the Latin penitential psalm "De profundis" is characterized by intense emotional expressiveness that alternates between somber, penetrating passages and hopefully ascending musical arcs. Boulanger exploits the possibilities of the large orchestra with its expanded wind and percussion sections as well as celesta, organ, and two harps to create a nuanced tonal painting.

As the sister of the famous Nadia Boulanger and the first woman to win the Prix de Rome, Lili Boulanger created in this psalm a work that demonstrates her extraordinary compositional talent. The composition is said to be among the composer's final major works and stands as exemplary of her creative output between tradition and innovation.