Theodora Dutton
American
Female
Born 1870, Died 1934
Blanche Ray Alden was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to a musical family. She wrote and performed music under the pseudonym Theodora Dutton. From an early age, she showed a unique talent for improvisation. In fact, as a child, she was often caught improvising when she was supposed to be practicing!
As an adult, Dutton found practical use of her improvisational skills at the movie theater by playing live piano for silent films. Dutton was recognized as one of the very best composers of scores for silent films. Three of her compositions are included in Erno Rapee’s Motion Picture Moods, considered the reference book for silent film accompanists.
Today, students may only know her name for the short piano piece, Christmas Day Secrets. This was the only work in the original Suzuki Piano Repertoire by a female composer; the credit was listed as “T. Dutton, dates unknown.” But, in all, Dutton published approximately 200 pieces for voice, violin, piano and of course, silent film.
As an adult, Dutton found practical use of her improvisational skills at the movie theater by playing live piano for silent films. Dutton was recognized as one of the very best composers of scores for silent films. Three of her compositions are included in Erno Rapee’s Motion Picture Moods, considered the reference book for silent film accompanists.
Today, students may only know her name for the short piano piece, Christmas Day Secrets. This was the only work in the original Suzuki Piano Repertoire by a female composer; the credit was listed as “T. Dutton, dates unknown.” But, in all, Dutton published approximately 200 pieces for voice, violin, piano and of course, silent film.