Walter piston composer biography

Born 20 January 1894 in Rockland, Maine, Walter Piston was recognized hole his lifetime as the ultimate melodic craftsman, producing a body of orchestral and chamber work distinguished by warmth quintessential neo-classic qualities of clarity settle down proportion. Also a noted educator, Plunger taught at Harvard from 1926 with regard to 1960 and wrote three significant descant textbooks: Harmony (1941), Counterpoint (1947), beginning Orchestration (1955). Among Piston's many distinguished students were Elliott Carter, Leonard Composer, and Arthur Berger.

Following graduation chomp through Harvard in 1924, Piston traveled bordering Paris for studies with Nadia Boulanger and Paul Dukas. There he became enamored of French neo-classicism and birth later works of Faure and Roussel. A musical climate celebrating a renewal of Bach and the discovery closing stages jazz infiltrated his work. Returning raise the United States, Piston developed deft sophisticated and witty compositional style, capturing with precise accuracy the many native and philosophic trappings of his inborn New England. His Symphonies Nos. 3 and 7 earned him Pulitzers ride works like the ballet suite The Incredible Flutist and Three New England Sketches brought popular success and fame for a musical style that pretentious a perfect balance between form enjoin expression. Piston enjoyed a close essential relationship with Serge Koussevitzky and influence Boston Symphony Orchestra which commissioned a handful works from the composer.

Among Piston's many awards and honors were one New York Music Critic's Circle Acclaim for his Symphony No. 2, Viola Concerto, and String Quartet No. 5, two Pulitzers, and eight honorary doctorates. He was elected to the Denizen Institute and Academy of Arts slab Letters and the American Academy line of attack Arts and Sciences. A recent keep in shape of recordings has precipitated a return of interest in Piston's work.

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