Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

October 31, 1906 in Arcachon, France

Death

:

August 13, 1996 in Saratoga Springs, NY

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Louise Talma was an American composer who was born on October 31, 1906, in Arcachon, France. Her parents were American, and they moved to the United States when she was a child. Talma grew up in New York City and began studying music at a young age. She attended the Institute of Musical Art (now the Juilliard School) and later studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Talma's early works were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and the Second Viennese School. She also experimented with serialism and other modernist techniques. In the 1940s, she began to develop her own unique style, which combined elements of neoclassicism, serialism, and American folk music. One of Talma's most famous works is her opera, The Alcestiad, which was premiered in 1962. The opera is based on the Greek myth of Alcestis, who sacrifices herself to save her husband's life. The Alcestiad is notable for its use of electronic music, which was still a relatively new technology at the time. Another important work by Talma is her Piano Sonata No. 2, which was composed in 1949. The sonata is a complex and challenging piece that showcases Talma's mastery of serialism and her ability to create intricate musical structures. Talma was also known for her chamber music, including her String Quartet No. 2, which was composed in 1950. The quartet is a lyrical and expressive work that demonstrates Talma's skill at writing for small ensembles. Throughout her career, Talma received numerous awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a commission from the Koussevitzky Foundation. She was also a respected teacher, and many of her students went on to become successful composers in their own right. Talma continued to compose and teach until her death in 1996. Her legacy as a pioneering American composer continues to inspire new generations of musicians and composers.

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