Thomson, Virgil
Name |
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born on | 25 November 1896 at 15:15 (= 3:15 PM ) | ||||
Place | Kansas City, Missouri, 39n06, 94w35 | ||||
Timezone | CST h6w (is standard time) | ||||
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Astrology data | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Biography
American musician, considered one of the masters of American music criticisms and composer of the only film score ever awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
Thomson grew up in turn-of-the-century Kansas City, and was educated in a provincial Baptist milieu. All through his adolescence and childhood, he resisted composing until 1920 at Harvard. He lived in Paris from 1925 until 1932, and was influenced by French composer Eric Satie. In 1939, he returned to New York.
He wrote deeply moving religious music, but his masterpiece is considered to be "Four Saints in Three Acts," 1934, for which Gertrude Stein wrote the libretto. His musical score for the documentary film "Louisiana Story" in 1948 received the only Pulitzer Prize ever awarded for a film score.
He died in 1989.
Relationships
- friend relationship with Busby, Gerald (born 16 December 1935)
- lover relationship with Rorem, Ned (born 23 October 1923)
Events
- Family : Change residence 1925 (Moved to Paris, seven yrs.)
- Work : Published/ Exhibited/ Released 1934 (Release of noted piece, "Four Saints in Three Acts")
- Work : Prize 1948 (Pulitzer Prize for "Louisiana Story")
- Death, Cause unspecified 1989 (Age 92-93)
Source Notes
Barbault quotes E. Sanchez, "personal."
Andre Barbault in personal correspondence with LMR May 2001 writes that Sanchez was a serious data sleuth and the time may be accurate.
Categories
- Personal : Death : Long life more than 80 yrs (Age 92-93)
- Vocation : Entertain/Music : Composer/ Arranger (Famed composer)
- Notable : Awards : Pulitzer prize (Only one to receive for film score)
- Notable : Famous : Top 5% of Profession