Theresa Bogard, piano; Gregory Oakes, clarinet; James Przygocki, viola; Rod Garnett, flute
Louise Talma was one of the most eminent American composers of the Twentieth Century and her work deserves a lasting place in the musical canon. At her death on August 13, 1996, two months before her 90th birthday, she left an oeuvre of more than 40 major works spanning seven decades. They were well represented in the LP recording catalogues, and a few have appeared on CD. This recording by pianist Theresa Bogard, the first CD dedicated to Talma's music, presents four of her most important solo piano compositions as well as two chamber works including Seven Episodes, which has not been previously recorded.
Louise Juliette Talma was born on October 31, 1906 in Arcachon, France, of American parents. Her father, a pianist, died when she was an infant, and her mother, Alma Cecile Garrigue, was an opera singer who appeared at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and in companies in Europe. In the summer of 1914 they moved to the United States. Talma grew up in New York City, and lived there most of her life. She studied at the Institute of Musical Art (incorporated with The Juilliard School of Music in 1946) from 1922 to 1930, completed her Bachelor of Music degree (1931) at New York University and her Master of Arts degree (1933) at Columbia University.
Talma considered her compositions to belong to three major style periods: the works up to 1954 are neoclassical, tonal, and contrapuntal; those from 1954 to about 1960 are strictly serial; after 1960 the use of serialism is simpler and more relaxed. However, she always believed that the overtone series is basic to music, and her works incorporating serialism do not negate tonality. The works on this recording represent her most ambitious efforts in all of these periods, and illustrate both her tonal and serial styles.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Music of Louise Talma
| MP3/320 | $17.00 | |
| FLAC | $17.00 | |
| WAV | $17.00 | |
| CD-R | $17.00 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Piano Sonata No. 1: I. Largo-Allegro
Louise Talma
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Piano Sonata No. 1: II. Larghetto
Louise Talma
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Piano Sonata No. 1: III. Presto
Louise Talma
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Six Etudes: I. Allegro
Louise Talma
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Six Etudes: II. Prestissimo
Louise Talma
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Six Etudes: III. Allegro
Louise Talma
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Six Etudes: IV. Allegro
Louise Talma
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Six Etudes: V. Allegretto grazioso
Louise Talma
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Six Etudes: VI. Molto adagio
Louise Talma
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Three Duologues for clarinet & piano: I. Lento
Louise Talma
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Three Duologues for clarinet & piano: II. Tranquillo
Louise Talma
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Three Duologues for clarinet & piano: III. Presto
Louise Talma
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Piano Sonata No. 2: I. Allegro
Louise Talma
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Piano Sonata No. 2: II. Tranquillo
Louise Talma
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Piano Sonata No. 2: III. Allegro molto vivace
Louise Talma
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Piano Sonata No. 2: IV. Allegro energico
Louise Talma
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Alleluia in form of a Toccata
Louise Talma
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Seven Episodes for flute, viola, & piano
Louise Talma
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