Talma, Louise

Louise Talma (b. Oct. 31, 1906, in Arcachon, France; d. Aug. 13, 1996 at Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) was an American composer, pianist, and educator.

From the description of Louise Talma papers, 1875-1996 (bulk 1928-1994). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71128298

Biographical Note

• 1906, Oct. 31: Born, Arcachon, France
• 1911: Began piano lessons
• 1914 (summer): Moved with mother, Cécile Talma, to New York
• 1922 - 1930 : Studied at the Institute of Musical Art, New York City
• 1926-1928 (winters): Taught theory and ear training at the Manhattan School of Music
• 1926-1927 (summers): Studied piano with Isidore Philipp at the Fontainebleau School of Music
• 1928-1939 (summers): Studied composition with Nadia Boulanger at the Fontainebleau School of Music
• 1928 - 1979 : Teacher and assistant professor of music, Hunter College, New York City
• 1931: Bachelor of Music, New York University
• 1932: Awarded Joseph Bearns Prize for Composition
• 1933: Master of Arts, Columbia University
• 1936-1939 (summers): Became first American to teach at Fontainebleau
• 1943: First visit to the MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, New Hampshire Performance of Four-Handed Fun with composer and life-long friend Lukas Foss Composed Piano Sonata no. 1
• 1944: Composed Toccata for Orchestra
• 1946 - 1947 : Awarded successive Guggenheim Fellowships
• 1949 - 1982 : Periodically studied or taught solfege, analysis, and harmony at Fontainebleau
• 1950: Composed The Divine Flame
• 1955: Awarded Fulbright Fellowship
• 1958: Composed The Alcestiad
• 1962: The Alcestiad becomes the first American opera to be performed at a major European opera house
• 1963: All the Days of My Life commissioned by the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress
• 1974: Became first woman elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters
• 1990: Composed Infanta Marina
• 1996, Aug. 13: Died at the Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, New York

From the guide to the Louise Talma Papers, 1875-1996, 1928-1994, (Music Division Library of Congress)