Vincent Ludwig Persichetti (June 6, 1915 – August 14, 1987) was an American composer, teacher, and pianist. An important musical educator and writer, he was known for his integration of various new ideas in musical composition into his own work and teaching, as well as for training many noted composers in composition at the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...

. His students at Juilliard included

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

Steve Reich Stephen Michael Reich ( ; born October 3, 1936) is an American composer best known as a pioneer of minimal music in the mid to late 1960s. Reich's work is marked by its use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm, and canons. Reich descr ...

, Larry Thomas Bell,

Bruce Adolphe Bruce Adolphe (born May 31, 1955) is a composer, music scholar, the author of several books on music, and pianist. He is currently Resident Lecturer and Director of Family Concerts of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, where he has been a ...

, Louis Calabro, Moshe Cotel,

Michael Jeffrey Shapiro Michael Jeffrey Shapiro is an American composer, conductor, and author. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and studied at Columbia College, Columbia University, the Mannes College of Music and the Juilliard School. He has worked with musicians a ...

Laurie Spiegel Laurie Spiegel (born September 20, 1945) is an American composer. She has worked at Bell Labs, Bell Laboratories, in computer graphics, and is known primarily for her electronic music electronic music, compositions and her algorithmic compositio ...

, Kenneth Fuchs, Richard Danielpour, Lawrence Dillon, Peter Schickele,

Lowell Liebermann Lowell Liebermann (born February 22, 1961, in New York City) is an American composer, pianist and conductor. Life and career At the age of sixteen, Liebermann performed at Carnegie Hall, playing his Piano Sonata, op. 1. He studied at the Juilliar ...

, Robert Witt,

Elena Ruehr Elena Ruehr (born 1963) is an American musician, music educator and composer. Life and career Elena Ruehr was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan as the daughter of a mathematician and an English professor. She grew up in Houghton, Michigan and began pian ...

, William Schimmel, Leonardo Balada, Gitta Steiner, Hank Beebe, Roland Wiggins,

Thomas Pasatieri Thomas Pasatieri (born October 20, 1945) is an American opera composer. Life and career Pasatieri was born in New York City, United States. He began composing at age 10 and, as a teenager, studied with Nadia Boulanger, although his main teachers ...

, Randell Croley and

Leo Brouwer Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida (born March 1, 1939) is a Cubans, Cuban composer, conducting, conductor, and classical guitarist. He is a Member of Honour of the International Music Council. Early years Brouwer was born in Havana, Cuba. When he ...

. He also taught composition to Joseph Willcox Jenkins and conductor

James DePreist James Anderson DePreist (November 21, 1936 – February 8, 2013) was an American conductor. DePreist was one of the first African-American conductors on the world stage. He was the director emeritus of conducting and orchestral studies at ...

at the Philadelphia Conservatory.

Life

Persichetti was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, Pennsylvania, in 1915. Though neither of his parents was a musician, his musical education began early. Persichetti enrolled in the Combs College of Music at the age of five, where he studied

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

and later

music theory Music theory is the study of theoretical frameworks for understanding the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory": The first is the "Elements of music, ...

and composition with Russel King Miller, whom he considered a great influence. He first performed his original works publicly at the age of 14. By the time he reached his teens, Persichetti was paying for his own education by accompanying and performing. He continued to do so throughout high school, adding church organist, orchestral player and radio staff pianist to his experience. In addition to developing his musical talents, he attended art school and remained an avid sculptor until his death. He attended Combs for his undergraduate education as well. After receiving a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in 1936, he was immediately offered a teaching position. By the age of 20, Persichetti was simultaneously head of the theory and composition department at Combs, a conducting major with

Fritz Reiner Frederick Martin Reiner (; December 19, 1888 – November 15, 1963) was an American conductor of opera and symphonic music in the twentieth century. Hungarian born and trained, he emigrated to the United States in 1922, where he rose to promine ...

at the

Curtis Institute The Curtis Institute of Music is a private conservatory in Philadelphia. It offers a performance diploma, a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in opera, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera. All students attend on a full scholarshi ...

, and a student of piano (with Olga Samaroff) and composition at the

Philadelphia Conservatory of Music Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

. He earned a master's degree in 1941 and a doctorate in 1945 from the Conservatory, as well as a conducting diploma from Curtis. In 1941, while still a student, Persichetti headed the theory and composition department as well as the department of postgraduate study at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, where he taught from 1939–1962. In 1941 Persichetti married Dorothea Flanagan who was a composer as well. They had a daughter Lauren, a dancer, and Garth, an actor. From 1932 to 1948 he was organist and eventually choirmaster of the Arch Street Presbyterian Church. In 1947,

William Schuman William Howard Schuman (August 4, 1910February 15, 1992) was an American composer and arts administrator. Life Schuman was born into a Jewish family in Manhattan, New York City, son of Samuel and Rachel Schuman. He was named after the 27th U.S. ...

offered him a professorship at the

. While at Juilliard, Persichetti was devoted to the wind band movement and advocated William Schuman and Peter Mennin to compose pieces for wind band. He was on staff at Juilliard for over forty years. Persichetti's students included

Einojuhani Rautavaara Einojuhani Rautavaara (; 9 October 1928 – 27 July 2016) was a Finnish composer of classical music. Among the most notable Finnish composers since Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), Rautavaara wrote a List of compositions by Einojuhani Rautavaara, gre ...

, Leonardo Balada, Steven Gellman, Peter Schickele (

P.D.Q. Bach P. D. Q. Bach is a fictional composer created by the American composer and musical satirist Peter Schickele for a five-decade career performing the "discovered" works of the "only forgotten son" of the Bach family. Schickele's music combines p ...

Claire Polin Claire Polin (January 1, 1926 – December 6, 1995) was an American composer of contemporary classical music, musicologist, and flutist. Education She obtained three degrees in music from the Philadelphia Conservatory: a Bachelor, Masters and Doc ...

Toshi Ichiyanagi was a Japanese avant-garde composer and pianist. One of the leading composers in Japan during the postwar era, Ichiyanagi worked in a range of genres, composing Western-style operas and orchestral and chamber works, as well as compositions usi ...

, Robert Witt (who also studied with Persichetti at the Philadelphia Conservatory), Randell Croley and

. He became editorial director of the Elkan-Vogel publishing house in 1952.

Music

Persichetti is one of the major figures in American music of the 20th century, both as a teacher and a composer. Notably, his ''Hymns and Responses for the Church Year'' has become a standard setting for church choirs. His numerous compositions for wind ensemble are often introductions to contemporary music for high school and college students. His early style was marked by the influences of

Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ( – 6 April 1971) was a Russian composer and conductor with French citizenship (from 1934) and American citizenship (from 1945). He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of ...

, Bartók, Hindemith, and Copland before he developed his distinct voice in the 1950s. Persichetti's music draws on a wide variety of thought in 20th-century contemporary composition as well as

Big Band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and ...

music. His own style was marked by use of two elements he refers to as "graceful" and "gritty": the former being more lyrical and melodic, the latter being sharp and intensely rhythmic. Especially true of his early compositions, Persichetti said he "liked bumpy melodic lines and was crazy about music that moved along a zigzag path." He frequently used

polytonality Polytonality (also polyharmony) is the musical use of more than one key (music), key simultaneity (music), simultaneously. Bitonality is the use of only two different keys at the same time. Polyvalence or polyvalency is the use of more than one di ...

and pandiatonicism in his writing, and his music could be marked by sharp rhythmic interjections, but his embracing of diverse strands of musical thought makes characterizing his body of work difficult. This trend continued throughout his compositional career. His music lacked sharp changes in style over time. He frequently composed while driving in his car, sometimes taping staff paper to the steering wheel. His piano music forms the bulk of his creative output, with a

concerto A concerto (; plural ''concertos'', or ''concerti'' from the Italian plural) is, from the late Baroque era, mostly understood as an instrumental composition, written for one or more soloists accompanied by an orchestra or other ensemble. The ...

, a concertino, twelve

sonatas In music a sonata (; pl. ''sonate'') literally means a piece ''played'' as opposed to a cantata (Latin and Italian ''cantare'', "to sing"), a piece ''sung''. The term evolved through the Music history, history of music, designating a variety of ...

, and a variety of other pieces written for the instrument. These were virtuosic pieces as well as pedagogical and amateur-level compositions. Persichetti was an accomplished pianist. He wrote many pieces suitable for less mature performers, considering them to have serious artistic merit. Persichetti is also one of the major composers for the concert

wind band A concert band, also called a wind band, wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind orchestra, symphonic band, the symphonic winds, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion famil ...

repertoire, with his 14 works for the ensemble. In 1950, Persichetti composed his first work for band, which was the ''Divertimento for Band''. The Symphony No. 6 for band is of particular note as a standard larger work. This piece boasts complex percussion lines crucial to the work's thematic material as well as utilizes the full spectrum of colors and timbres of the wind band. He wrote one

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

, entitled ''The Sibyl.'' The music was noted by critics for its color, but the dramatic and vocal aspects of the work were found by some to be lacking. He wrote nine symphonies, of which the first two were withdrawn, and four

string quartet The term string quartet refers to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two Violin, violini ...

s. Many of his other works are organized into series. One of these, a collection of primarily instrumental works entitled ''Parables'', contains 25 works, many for unaccompanied wind instruments (complete listing below). His 15 ''Serenades'' include such unconventional combinations as a trio for

trombone The trombone (, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...

viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

, and

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

, as well as selections for orchestra, for band, and for duo piano. During the 1950s, Persichetti was perceived to "truly achieve his own distinctive voice," in the words of Walter G. Simmons. One of Persichetti's most revered compositions is his Concerto for Piano, Four Hands. This duet was first performed at the Pittsburgh International Contemporary Music Festival on November 29, 1952. The piece itself gives the listener the illusion that the two pianists are having a pleasant conversation, without using words, but just musical notes. The duet featured both Vincent and Dorothea Persichetti as the performers. In his review in the Manchester Guardian, Colin Mason stated, "The Concierto (sic) for Piano, Four Hands was for me one of the most interesting stimulating American works of the Pittsburgh International Contemporary Music Festival." Persichetti's esthetic was essentially conservative, a distinctive blend of Classical, Romantic and Modernist elements, contrapuntal, rhythmically charged and expertly scored. His musical imagination was multifaceted and highly virtuosic. "Following the lineage of Mozart, Mendelssohn and Ravel, Persichetti's music suggests the innocence and childlike joy of pure musical creativity", Walter Simmons wrote in the ''New Grove Dictionary of American Music''. "Hence many works for beginners stand, with neither condescension nor apology, alongside more difficult compositions." Persichetti frequently appeared as a lecturer on college campuses, for which he was noted for his witty and engaging manner. He wrote the noted music theory textbook, ''Twentieth Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice''. He and Flora Rheta Schreiber wrote a monograph on

. Persichetti was a big fan of collaboration between music and dance. He encouraged his students at Juilliard to work with the dance program to create compositions for the dancers choreography. Persichetti also collaborated with choreographers professionally. He worked with Martha Graham. He admired her seriousness and her commitment to movement. Persichetti believed that music has to stand on its own and can not be married to dance, one can not depend on the other. He once said, "There isn't such thing as dance music. Music is dance, it's motion." Persichetti performed many concerts consisting of improvisation. He believed any composer/artist must improvise to create.

Works

Selected works

* ''Celebrations'', for Chorus and Wind Ensemble, Op. 103 * ''Chorale Prelude: So Pure the Star'', Op. 91 * ''Chorale Prelude: Turn Not Thy Face'', Op. 105 * ''Divertimento for Band'', Op. 42 * ''Masquerade'' for Band, Op. 102 * ''Masques'' for violin and piano Op. 99 * ''Mass'' for a capella mixed chorus, Op. 84 * ''Pageant'', Op. 59 * ''Parable IX'' for Band, Op. 121 * ''Pastoral'' for Wind Quintet, Op. 21 * ''Psalm for Band'', Op. 53 * Symphony No. 6 for Band (1956) * ''The Hollow Men'', for trumpet and string orchestra, Op. 25 * ''The Sibyl: A Parable of Chicken Little (Parable XX)'': An Opera in One Act, Op. 135 * ''Winter Cantata'', Op. 97 for Women's Chorus, Flute, and Marimba

Complete listing of parables

* ''Parable ' for Flute, Op. 100 (1965) * ''Parable II'' for Brass Quintet, Op. 108 (1968) * ''Parable III'' for Oboe, Op. 109 (1968) * ''Parable IV'' for Bassoon, Op. 110 (1969) * ''Parable V'' for

Carillon A carillon ( , ) is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a musical keyboard, keyboard and consists of at least 23 bells. The bells are Bellfounding, cast in Bell metal, bronze, hung in fixed suspension, and Musical tuning, tu ...

, Op. 112 (1969) * ''Parable VI'' for Organ, Op. 117 (1971) * ''Parable VII'' for Harp, Op. 119 (1971) * ''Parable VIII'' for Horn, Op. 120 (1972) * ''Parable IX'' for Band, Op. 121 (1972) * ''String Quartet No. 4 (Parable X)'', Op. 122 (1972) * ''Parable XI'' for Alto Saxophone, Op. 123 (1972) * ''Parable XII'' for Piccolo, Op. 125 (1973) * ''Parable XIII'' for Clarinet, Op. 126 (1973) * ''Parable XIV'' for Trumpet, Op. 127 (1975) * ''Parable XV'' for English Horn, Op. 128 (1973) * ''Parable XVI'' for Viola, Op. 130 (1974) * ''Parable XVII'' for Double Bass, Op. 131 (1974) * ''Parable XVIII'' for Trombone, Op. 133 (1975) * ''Parable XIX'' for Piano, Op. 134 (1975) * ''The Sibyl: A Parable of Chicken Little (Parable XX)'': An Opera in One Act, Op. 135 * ''Parable XXI'' for Guitar, Op. 140 (1978) * ''Parable XXII'' for Tuba, Op. 147 (1981) * ''Parable XXIII'' for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Op. 150 (1981) * ''Parable XXIV'' for Harpsichord, Op. 153 (1982) * ''Parable XXV'' for Two Trumpets, Op. 164 (1986)

Poems for piano

* Volume 1, Op. 4: # ''Unroll the flicker's rousing drum'' ( Louis Untermeyer ''First Words Before Spring'') # ''Soft is the collied night'' (

James Elroy Flecker James Elroy Flecker (5 November 1884 – 3 January 1915) was a British novelist, playwright, and poet, whose poetry was most influenced by the Parnassian poets. Biography Herman Elroy Flecker was born on 5 November 1884 in Lewisham, London, t ...

''Fountains'') # ''Gather for festival bright weed and purple shell'' ( William Watson ''Songs from Cyprus'') # ''Wake subtler dreams, and touch me nigh to tears'' (William Watson ''The Frontier'') # ''Ravished lute, sing to her virgin ears'' (

Robert Fitzgerald Robert Stuart Fitzgerald (12 October 1910 – 16 January 1985) was an American poet, literary critic and translator whose renderings of the Greek classics "became standard works for a generation of scholars and students".Mitgang, Herbert (Januar ...

''Song after Campion'') # ''Whose thin fraud I wink at privily'' (William Watson ''The Mock Self'') * Volume 2, Op. 5: # ''And warm winds spilled fragrance into her solitudes'' ( Edmond Kowalewski ''Change'') # ''To whose more clear than crystal voice the frost had joined a crystal spell'' (

Léonie Adams Léonie Fuller Adams (December 9, 1899 – June 27, 1988) was an American poet. She was appointed the seventh Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1948. Biography Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in ...

''Home Coming'') # ''Sleep, weary mind; dream, heart's desire'' (

Edna St. Vincent Millay Edna St. Vincent Millay (February 22, 1892 – October 19, 1950) was an American lyric poetry, lyrical poet and playwright. Millay was a renowned social figure and noted Feminism, feminist in New York City during the Roaring Twenties and beyond. ...

''There are no islands any more'') # ''Dust in sunlight, and memory in corners'' (

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist and playwright.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biography''. New York: Oxford University ...

''A Song for Simeon'') # ''Make me drunken with deep red torrents of joy'' ( John Gould Fletcher ''Autumnal Clouds'') * Volume 3, Op. 14: # ''Rear its frondings sighing in aetherial folds'' (

Hart Crane Harold Hart Crane (July 21, 1899 – April 27, 1932) was an American poet. Inspired by the Romantics and his fellow Modernists, Crane wrote highly stylized poetry, often noted for its complexity. His collection '' White Buildings'' (1926), feat ...

''Royal Palm'') # ''Listen! Can you hear the antic melody of fear those two anxious feet are playing?'' ( Walter Prude) # ''Puffed out and marching upon a blue sky'' (

Amy Lowell Amy Lawrence Lowell (February 9, 1874 – May 12, 1925) was an American poet of the imagist school. She posthumously won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1926. Life Amy Lowell was born on February 9, 1874, in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughte ...

''Lilacs'') # ''And hunged like those top jewels of the night'' (

''Twilit Revelation'') # ''Each gay dunce shall lend a hand'' (

John Trumbull John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was an American painter and military officer best known for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He has been called the "Painter of the Revolut ...

''The Country Clown'')

List of selected works

* Concertino for Piano, op.16, 1941 * Symphony no.1, op.18, 1942 * Symphony no.2, op.19, 1942 * Dance Overture, op.20, 1942 * Fables, op.23, 1943 * The Hollow Men, op.25, 1944 * Symphony no.3, op.30, 1946 * Serenade no.5, op.43, 1950 * Fairy Tale, op.48, 195 * Symphony no.4, op.51, 1951 * Symphony for Strings (Sym. no.5), op.61, 1953 * Symphony no.7 'Liturgical', op.80, 1958 * Piano Concerto, op.90, 1962 * Introit, op.96, 1964 * Symphony no.8, op.106, 1967 * Symphony no.9 'Sinfonia janiculum', op.113, 1970 * Night Dances, op.114, 1970 * A Lincoln Address, op.124, 1972, originally written for Nixon's 2nd inauguration, incorporating text from Lincoln's 2nd inaugural address, but pulled from the program. Later premiered January 25, 1973 by Walter Susskind and the St. Louis Symphony with narration by

William Warfield William Caesar Warfield (January 22, 1920 – August 25, 2002) was an American concert bass-baritone, known for his appearances in stage productions, Hollywood films, and television programs. A prominent African American artist during the Civil ...

. * Concerto for English Horn and Strings, op.137, 1977 * Band: ** Divertimento, op.42, 1950 ** Psalm, op.53, 1952 ** Pageant, op.59, 1953 ** Symphony for Band (Sym. no.6), op.69, 1956 ** Serenade no.11, op.85, 1960 ** Bagatelles, op.87, 1961 ** So Pure the Star, chorale prelude, op.91, 1962 ** Masquerade, op.102, 1965 ** Turn not thy Face, chorale prelude, op.105, 1966 ** O Cool is the Valley (Poem for Band), op.118, 1971 ** A Lincoln Address, op.124a, nar, band, 1973 ** O God Unseen, chorale prelude, op.160, 1984 * Vocal ** Choral: *** Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, op.8, SATB, pf, 1940 *** Canons, op.31, SSAA/TTBB/SATB, 1947 *** 2 Cummings Choruses (e.e. cummings), op.33, 2vv, pf, 1948 **** I. jimmie's got a goil **** II. sam was a man *** Proverb, op.34, SATB, 1948 *** 2 Cummings Choruses, op.46, SSAA, 1950 **** I. hist whist **** II. this is the garden *** Hymns and Responses for the Church Year (W.H. Auden, Dickinson, Milton, Shakespeare, Psalms, Shelley, and others), op.68, 1955, originally a commission for a single hymn by Carleton Sprague Smith for Smith's collection American Hymns. *** Seek the Highest (F. Adler), op.78, SAB, pf, 1957 *** Song of Peace (anon.), op.82, TTBB/SATB, pf, 1959 *** Mass, op.84, SATB, 1960 *** Stabat mater, op.92, SATB, orch, 1963 *** Te Deum, op.93, SATB, orch, 1963 *** Spring Cantata (Cummings), op.94, SSAA, pf, 1963 *** Winter Cantata (11 Haiku), op.97, SSAA, fl, mar, 1964 *** 4 Cummings Choruses, op.98, 2vv, pf, 1964 **** I. dominic has a doll **** II. nouns to nouns **** III. maggie and millie and molly and may **** IV. uncles *** Celebrations (cant., W. Whitman), op.103, SATB, wind ens, 1966 *** The Pleiades (cant., Whitman), op.107, SATB, tpt, str, 1967 *** The Creation (Persichetti), op.111, S, A, T, Bar, SATB, orch, 1969; *** Love (Bible: Corinthians), op.116, SSAA, 1971 *** Glad and Very (Cummings), op.129, 2vv, 1974 *** Flower Songs (Cant. no.6) (Cummings), op.157, SATB, str, 1983 *** Hymns and Responses for the Church Year, vol. 2, op.166, 1987 ** Solo: *** e.e. cummings Songs, op.26, 1945, unpublished *** 2 Chinese Songs, op.29, 1945 *** 3 English Songs (17th century), op.49, 1951, unpublished *** Harmonium (W. Stevens), song cycle, op.50, S, pf, 1951 *** Sara Teasdale Songs, op.72, 1957, unpublished *** Carl Sandburg Songs, op.73, 1957, unpublished *** James Joyce Songs, op.74, 1957 *** Hilaire Belloc Songs, op.75, 1957 *** Robert Frost Songs, op.76, 1957, unpublished *** Emily Dickinson Songs, op.77, 1957 *** A Net of Fireflies (Jap., trans. H. Steward), song cycle, op.115, 1970 * Chamber and Solo Instrumental ** 3 or more instruments: *** Serenade no.1, op.1, 10 wind, 1929 *** Str Qt no.1, op.7, 1939 *** Concertato, op.12, piano quintet, 1940 *** Serenade no.3, op.17, violin, cello, piano, 1941 *** Pastoral, op.21, woodwind quintet, 1943 *** String Quartet no.2, op.24, 1944 *** King Lear, op.35, woodwind quintet, timpani, piano, 1948 *** Serenade no.6, op.44, trombone, viola, cello, 1950 *** Piano Quintet, op.66, 1954 *** String Quartet no.3, op.81, 1959 ** 1–2 instruments: *** Suite, op.9, violin, cello, 1940, unpublished *** Sonata, op.10, violin, 1940 *** Fantasy, op.15, violin, piano, 1941, unpublished *** Vocalise, op.27, cello, piano, 1945 *** Serenade no.4, op.28, violin, piano, 1945 *** Sonata, op.54, cello, 1952 *** Little Recorder Book, op.70, 1956 *** Serenade no.9, op.71, 2 recorder, 1956 *** Serenade no.10, op.79, flute, harp, 1957 *** Infanta marina, op.83, viola, piano, 1960 *** Serenade no.12, op.88, tuba, 1961 *** Serenade no.13, op.95, 2 clarinets, 1963 *** Masques, op.99, violin, piano, 1965 *** Serenade no.14, op.159, oboe, 1984 * Keyboard ** Piano: *** Serenade no.2, op.2, 1929 *** Sonata no.1, op.3, 1939 *** Poems, vols.1–2, opp.4–5, 1939 *** Sonata no.2, op.6, 1939 *** Sonata, op.13, 2 pianos, 1940 *** Poems, vol. 3, op.14, 1941 *** Sonata no.3, op.22, 1943 *** Variations for an Album, op.32, 1947 *** Sonata no.4, op.36, 1949 *** Sonata no.5, op.37, 1949 *** Sonatina no.1, op.38, 1950 *** Sonata no.6, op.39, 1950 *** Sonata no.7, op.40, 1950 *** Sonata no.8, op.41, 1950 *** Sonatina no.2, op.45, 1950 *** Sonatina no.3, op.47, 1950 *** Serenade no.7, op.55, 1952 *** Concerto, op.56, 4 hands, 1952 *** Parades, op.57, 1952 *** Sonata no.9, op.58, 1952; *** Little Piano Book, op.60, 1953 *** Serenade no.8, op.62, 4 hands, 1954 *** Sonatina no.4, op.63, 1954 *** Sonatina no.5, op.64, 1954 *** Sonatina no.6, op.65, 1954 *** Sonata no.10, op.67, 1955 *** Sonata no.11, op.101, 1965 *** Little Mirror Book, op.139, 1978 *** Reflective Studies, op.138, 1978 *** 4 Arabesques, op.141, 1978 *** 3 Toccatinas, op.142, 1979 *** Mirror Etudes, op.143, 1979 *** Sonata no.12, op.145, 1980 *** Winter Solstice, op.165, 1986 ** Other: *** Sonatine, op.11, organ pedals, 1940 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.1, op.52, 1951 *** Sonata for Organ, op.86, 1960, commissioned by the St. Louis chapter of the AGO, premiered by Rudolph Kremer at the AGO chapter's 50th anniversary concert. *** Shimah b'koli, op.89, organ, 1962 *** Drop, Drop Slow Tears, chorale prelude, op.104, organ, 1966 *** Do Not Go Gentle, op.132, organ pedals, 1974 *** Auden Variations, op.136, organ, 1977, commissioned by the Hartt College of Music for organist Leonard Raver, premiered by Raver at Hartt's International Contemporary Organ Music Festival on July 14, 1978. *** Dryden Liturgical Suite, op.144, organ, 1979, commissioned by the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

's Marilyn Mason Commissioning Fund, dedicated to Marilyn Mason, premiered by Mason in June 1980 at the AGO's national convention in Minneapolis. *** Harpsichord Sonata no.2, op.146, 1981 *** Song of David, op.148, org, 1981 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.3, op.149, 1981 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.4, op.151, 1982 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.5, op.152, 1982 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.6, op.154, 1982 *** Little Harpsichord Book, op.155, 1983 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.7, op.156, 1983 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.8, op.158, 1984 *** Serenade no.15, op.161, harpsichord, 1984 *** Give Peace, O God, chorale prelude, op.162, organ, 1985 *** Harpsichord Sonata no.9, op.163, 1985

Awards and honors

* In honor of Persichetti's influence on American music, on May 19, 1984, he was awarded the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club Award of Merit. Beginning in 1964, this award "established to bring a declaration of appreciation to an individual each year that has made a significant contribution to the world of music and helped to create a climate in which our talents may find valid expression." * Persichetti was an honorary brother of the Delta Eta chapter of

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (legally Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha, PMA, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for men with a special interest ...

Youngstown State University Youngstown State University (YSU or Youngstown State) is a public university in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1908 and is the easternmost member of the University System of Ohio. The university is composed of six undergrad ...

. He was initiated into the fraternity on April 1, 1961. * Persichetti was an honorary brother of the Omicron chapter of

Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (, colloquially referred to as KKPsi) is an honorary Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for school band, college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November ...

West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Ins ...

. He was initiated into the fraternity on November 17, 1967.

References

External links

Vincent Persichetti's page
Carl Fischer
Vincent Persichetti's page
Theodore Presser Company
Vincent Persichetti papers, 1901–1996
Music Division,

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second-largest public library in the United States behind the Library of Congress a ...

Vincent Persichetti collection of noncommercial recordings, 1940–1987
Music Division, New York Public Library
Dorothea Flanagan Persichetti scrapbook, 1925–1941
Music Division, New York Public Library

discussion of

Emily Dickinson Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massac ...

songs, Opus 77, by Vincent Persichetti
Persichetti information and trivia
bandroom.com
List of works
ArkivMusic
Vincent Persichetti Society

Interviews

by Bruce Duffie, November 15, 1986
David Dubal interview with Vincent Persichetti
WNCN-FM, June 3, 1984
Interview with Tim Page
WNYC, May 12, 1987

Listening

* ''Night Dances, op. 114'' (1970) {{DEFAULTSORT:Persichetti, Vincent 1915 births 1987 deaths 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American classical composers American male classical composers American people of Italian descent Classical musicians from Pennsylvania Combs College of Music alumni Composers for carillon Concert band composers Curtis Institute of Music alumni Juilliard School faculty Musicians from Philadelphia Pupils of Fritz Reiner South Philadelphia High School alumni University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni University of the Arts (Philadelphia) faculty