Louise Talma

Full biography Louise Talma

Louise Talma was an American composer born in 1906 in Arcachon, France, who went on to become a prominent figure in the 20th century music scene. She began her musical education at age six in the United States studying the piano with Isidor Philipp and composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the 1920s.

Talma returned to the United States in 1940s and took up teaching positions at various universities. She was an influential music educator and taught at Hunter College in New York, Queens College in New York, and the Bennington College in Vermont, where she served as the founding faculty member of the music department. She had also held chairs in various organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Composers Alliance, and the National Institute of Arts and Letters.

In her compositions, Talma integrated many traditional musical forms such as fugue and sonata, but also incorporated elements of modern music. She is noted for her use of colorful harmonies and experimentation with polytonality and serialism. Some of her most famous compositions include "Alla marcia," "Double Fugue," and "Summer Sounds." Talma also explored electronic music and created works that used tape recordings and live electronics.

Despite being a woman in a male-dominated field, Talma was highly respected and accomplished. She received many awards throughout her career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1946 and the National Institute of Arts and Letters Music Award in 1982. She passed away in 1996 but her music and influence continue to be felt in the contemporary music world.