Walter Piston

Walter Piston (1894-1976) was a preeminent figure among America's neo-classic composers in the early part of the 20th century, a gifted teacher and renowned theorist. Studying with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the 1920s, Piston first made his mark with his Concerto for Orchestra (1933). Piston taught at Harvard until 1960 and was better known for his theoretical manuals on harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration than for his music. Although Piston's work list is small, it includes eight symphonies, five string quartets, the band piece Turnbridge Fair (1950), and his most famous work, the ballet The Incredible Flutist (1938).