Toccata (1993)

Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927) — Toccata (1993) for organ

American composer Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927) was born in Kansas City, Missouri and received her degrees in music composition from the Yale School of Music (BM, MM) and the Eastman School of Music (PhD). She studied further in Brussels on a Fulbright Scholarship and at Tanglewood. Diemer was a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara where she taught composition and theory from 1971 to 1991. She was composer-in-residence with the Santa Barbara Symphony and was named organist emerita at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara. Her music has been published since 1957, and a number of her works are recorded. Diemer’s recognitions includes a Louisvlle Orchestra Student Award, a Ford Foundation Young Composers Grant for a two-year composer-residency in the Arlington, VA schools, an NEA fellowship in electronic music, a Kennedy Center Friedheim award for her piano concerto, the American Guild of Organists Distinguished Composer award, and a Mu Phi Epsilon Merit Award.

Published by Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. (http://www.wayneleupold.com) “Basic Organ Repertoire, Vol. 3A”