Lili Boulanger was born in Paris, France on August 21, 1893, and died in Mézy-sur-Seine, France, on March 15, 1918. D’un matin de printemps is scored for piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, sarrusophone, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, percussion (two players), harp, celesta, and strings. Approximate performance time is five minutes.

Lili Boulanger, sister of the legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979), lived a tragically brief life. A victim of intestinal tuberculosis, Lili Boulanger died at the age of 24. Nevertheless in that brief span, she accomplished a great deal. A student at the Paris Conservatoire, Lili Boulanger won the coveted Prix de Rome in 1913, at the age of 19. Boulanger composed prolifically, right to the end of her life.

One of Lili Boulanger’s final compositions was D’un matin de printemps (On a Spring Morning). The work exists in three versions; for violin (or flute) and piano; piano trio; and orchestral tone poem. The brief piece demonstrates Boulanger’s mastery of atmosphere and instrumental colors.