Virgil Thomson

Composer

Birthday November 25, 1896

Birth Sign Sagittarius

Birthplace Kansas City, MO

DEATH DATE Sep 30, 1989 (92)

#143,057 Most Popular

About

Composer and critic who was instrumental in the development of the 'American Sound' in classical music. He wrote two operas with Gertrude Stein, 'Four Saints in Three Acts' and 'The Mother of Us All.' He also composed incidental music for Orson Welles' version of 'Macbeth' from 1936.

Before Fame

He studied with Erik Satie at Harvard. He was a student under Nadia Boulanger while in Paris where he attained great popularity.

Trivia

He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1988.

Family Life

He was raised in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He attended Harvard University thanks to a loan from the Mormon church.

Associated With

He befriended Ernest Hemingway when he moved to Paris in the 1940s.