Marjo Tal facts for kids

Marjo Tal (born January 15, 1915 – died August 27, 2006) was a talented Dutch musician. She was a composer, meaning she wrote music. She was also a pianist, which means she played the piano. Marjo Tal wrote music for over 150 songs. She often performed these songs herself, playing the piano as she sang.

Her Life and Music Career

Early Years and Training

Marjo Tal was born in The Hague, a city in the Netherlands. She was the oldest of three sisters. Her family was Jewish. She loved music from a young age. Marjo studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory, a special music school. Her teachers there were Sem Dresden and Nelly Wagenaar. In 1936, Marjo won a special scholarship. This was money from the government to help her study music. She used it to study piano in London for three years. Her teacher in London was Franz Osborn. She also helped other students there by playing piano for them.

Music During World War II

Marjo Tal returned to the Netherlands. She performed her first big concert on March 7, 1940. It was at the Diligentia Theatre in The Hague. Soon after, World War II began. It was a very difficult time. Marjo had to move often to stay safe. She could not practice her music or perform in public. During this time, she lost some of her early music. These included two string trios, a quartet, and two sonatas.

After the War

After World War II, Marjo's two sisters moved to Israel. Marjo stayed in the Netherlands with her mother. Her mother had survived a concentration camp. Marjo taught music and worked as a piano accompanist. She played piano for dance studios and fashion shows. She also toured around Europe as a piano soloist. By the mid-1960s, Marjo Tal started to focus more on writing music. She spent less time performing.

Later Life and Compositions

Marjo Tal enjoyed setting poems to music. She wrote songs using poems by many famous writers. Some of these poets included Anna Akhmatova, Guillaume Apollinaire, and Federico García Lorca. She also made several music recordings for a company called BV Haast Records. In 1988, Marjo Tal moved to Israel. She wanted to live closer to her sisters. Her music was published by Donemus and Ray Ventura.

Marjo Tal's Musical Works

Marjo Tal wrote many different kinds of music. Here are some examples of her compositions.

Chamber Music

Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments.

• Miniaturen (for different instruments)
• Old Irish Country Songs (for recorder, harp, and viola da gamba, or flute, piano, and cello)
• Seven Pieces for a Gentleman and His Recorder
• String Quartet (for four string instruments)
• Three Encores (for recorder and piano)

Piano Music

This music is written specifically for the piano.

• Drei in Een (for two pianists playing one piano)
• Miniaturen (for two pianists playing one piano)

Vocal Music

Vocal music is written for singers, often with instruments playing along.

• “12 Chansons de Queneau”
• “20 Chansons de Prevert”
• “Acht Engelman Liederen”
• “After: Six Songs of Poems by Rupert Brooke”
• “Canciones Espanolas”
• “Canzonen: Five Songs”
• “Cent et Cinquant Chansons Litteraires”
• “Deux Rondeaux”
• “Dix Chansons de Jacques Prevert”
• En Sourdine (for voice and instruments)
• “Four Settings of Irish Country Songs”
• Mass (for choir and organ)
• “Sept Poemes d’Amour en Guerre”
• Siete Canciones Espanola (for voice, piano, and other instruments)
• “Six Songs”
• “Tender et Dangereux: Six Songs”