Paul Creston

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Paul Creston (born Giuseppe Guttoveggio; October 10, 1906 – August 24, 1985) was an

Italian American composer of classical music
.

Biography

Born in

Ruth Stuber), one each for one piano, two pianos, and accordion, and a concerto for alto saxophone (the latter dedicated to Cecil Leeson);[3] as well as a fantasia for trombone and orchestra (composed for and premiered by Robert Marsteller). Also for alto saxophone Creston wrote a Rapsodie for Jean-Marie Londeix; a suite (1935) and a sonata (Op. 19, 1939), both dedicated to Cecil Leeson[3][4] (the sonata was arranged by Marco Ciccone for saxophone and orchestra in 2008); and also a suite for organ, Op. 70.[5]

Several of his works were inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman.

He died in Poway, California, a suburb of San Diego.[6]

[according to verifiable facts, concert programs.Slomsky, Bio-Bibliography. see attached] ] Creston was one of the most performed American composers of the 1940s and 1950s.[

wind band repertoire. Zanoni, Prelude and Dance and the Celebration Overture have been and still are on several state lists for contests across the USA.[citation needed
]

Creston was also a notable teacher, whose students included the composers

Selected works

Stage

  • Two Choric Dances – "Time Out of Mind", Ballet, Op. 17a (1938)
  • A Tale About the Land, An American Folk Ballet for voice, piano, clarinet and percussion, Op. 23 (1940)

Orchestral

  • Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking (1934); after a poem by Walt Whitman
  • Gregorian Chant for string orchestra; arrangement of movement III from String Quartet, Op. 8
  • Fugue for string orchestra; arrangement of movement IV from String Quartet, Op. 8
  • Threnody, Op. 16 (1938)
  • Two Choric Dances, Op. 17 (1938); for chamber orchestra (Op. 17a) or orchestra (Op. 17b)
  • Symphony No. 1, Op. 20 (1940)
  • Prelude and Dance, Op. 25 (1941)
  • A Rumor, Op. 27 (1941)
  • Pastorale and Tarantella, Op. 28 (1941)
  • Chant of 1942, Op. 33 (1943)
  • Frontiers, Op. 34 (1943)
  • Symphony No. 2, Op. 35 (1944)
  • Poem, Op. 39 (1945)
  • Homage for string orchestra, Op. 41 (1947)
  • Symphony No. 3 "Three Mysteries", Op. 48 (1950)
  • Symphony No. 4, Op. 52 (1951)
  • Walt Whitman, Op. 53 (1952)
  • Invocation and Dance, Op. 58 (1953)
  • Dance Overture, Op. 62 (1954)
  • Symphony No. 5, Op. 64 (1955)
  • Lydian Ode, Op. 67
  • Toccata, Op. 68 (1957)
  • Pre-Classic Suite, Op. 71 (1957)
  • Janus, Op. 77 (1959)
  • Corinthians XIII, Tone Poem, Op. 82 (1963)
  • Choreografic Suite, Op. 86 (1965); for chamber orchestra (Op. 86a) or orchestra (Op. 86b)
  • Introit "Hommage à Pierre Monteux", Op. 87 (1965–1966)
  • Airborne Suite (1966)
  1. Evening in Texas
  2. Sunrise in Puerto Rico
  3. High Noon – Montreal
  4. Midnight – Mexico
  • Pavanne Variations, Op. 89 (1966)
  • Chthonic Ode "Homage to Henry Moore" for large orchestra with euphonium, celesta and piano, Op. 90 (1966)
  • Thanatopsis, Op. 101 (1971)
  • Suite for string orchestra, Op. 109 (1978)
  • Symphony No. 6 "Organ Symphony" for organ and orchestra, Op. 118 (1981)
  • Evening in Texas
  • Kangaroo Kaper
  • Rumba - Tarantella
  • Sunrise in Puerto Rico

Concert band

  • Legend, Op. 31 (1942)
  • Zanoni, Op. 40 (1946)
  • Celebration Overture, Op. 61 (1954)
  • Prelude and Dance, Op. 76 (1959)
  • Anatolia (Turkish Rhapsody), Op. 93 (1967)
  • Kalevala, Fantasy on Finnish Folk Songs, Op. 95 (1968)
  • Jubilee, Op. 102 (1971)
  • Liberty Song '76, Op. 107 (1975); also for mixed chorus and concert band
  • Festive Overture, Op. 116 (1980)

Concertante

  • Ruth Stuber
    )
  • Concerto for saxophone and orchestra, Op. 26 (1941)
  • Concerto for alto saxophone, Op. 26 (1944)
  • Fantasy for piano and orchestra, Op. 32 (1942)
  • Dawn Mood for piano and orchestra, Op. 36 (1944)
  • Poem for harp and orchestra, Op. 39 (1945)
  • Fantasy for trombone and orchestra (or concert band), Op. 42 (1947)
  • Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 43 (1949)
  • Concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra, Op. 50 (1950)
  • Concerto No. 1 for violin and orchestra, Op. 65 (1956)
  • Concerto for accordion and orchestra, Op. 75
  • Concerto No. 2 for violin and orchestra, Op. 78 (1960)
  • Fantasy for accordion and orchestra, Op. 85 (1964); also for accordion solo
  • Sādhanā for cello and orchestra, Op. 117 (1981)

Chamber music

  • Three Poems from Walt Whitman for cello and piano, Op. 4
  • Suite for alto saxophone or clarinet and piano, Op. 6 (1935)
  • String Quartet, Op. 8 (1936)
  • Partita for flute, violin (or 2 violins) and piano (or string orchestra), Op. 12 (1937)
  • Suite for viola and piano, Op. 13 (1938)
  • Suite for violin and piano, Op. 18
  • Sonata for alto saxophone and piano, Op. 19 (1939)
  • Meditation for marimba and organ (arrangement of movement II of Concertino, Op. 21)
  • Homage for viola (or cello), harp and organ, Op. 41 (1947); also for string orchestra
  • Lydian Song for harp solo, Op. 55 (1952)
  • Suite for flute, viola and piano, Op. 56 (1953)
  • Suite for cello and piano, Op. 66 (1956)
  • Olympia, Rhapsody for harp solo, Op. 94 (1968)
  • Concertino for piano and woodwind quintet, Op. 99 (1969)
  • Ceremonial for percussion ensemble and piano, Op. 103 (1972)
  • Rapsodie for saxophone and organ, Op. 108 (1976)
  • Suite for saxophone quartet, Op. 111 (1979)
  • Piano Trio, Op. 112 (1979)
  • Cantilena from Sadhana for cello and piano, Op. 117 (1981); original for cello and orchestra; also for voice and piano
  • Fanfare for Paratroopers for brass

Keyboard

  • Hippo's Dance for piano
  • Kangaroo Kaper for piano
  • Little Red Pony for piano
  • Moment Musical for piano (1926)
  • Phases: Dance Suite for piano
  • Prelude and Dance for piano
  • Antitheses for piano (1930)
  • A Chant of Work for piano (1930)
  • Five Dances for piano, Op. 1
  • Music for "Iron Flowers" for piano (1933?); incidental music for the play by Cecil Lewis
  • Seven Theses for piano, Op. 3 (1933)
  • Variations on "The First Noel" for organ (1934)
  • Sonata for piano, Op. 9
  • Five Two-Part Inventions for piano, Op. 14 (1946)
  • Five Little Dances for piano, Op. 24
  • Prelude and Dance for piano, Op. 29
  • Six Preludes for piano, Op. 38
  • Prelude and Dance for accordion, Op. 69 (1957)
  • Suite for organ, Op. 70
  • Fantasia for organ, Op. 74 (1958)
  • Wedding Recessional for organ (1961)
  • Three Narratives for piano, Op. 79 (1962)
  • Pony Rondo (a.k.a. Rondino) for piano solo (1964)
  • Rapsodia Breve for organ, Op. 81 (1963)
  • Metamorphoses for piano, Op. 84 (1964)
  • Fantasy for accordion solo, Op. 85 (1964); also for accordion and orchestra
  • Rumba-Tarantella for piano 4-hands (1964)
  • Song of Sicily for piano (1964); from the TV film The Twentieth Century: Invasion of Sicily
  • Rhythmicon, Piano Studies in Rhythm, 10 Books (1964–1977)
  • Interlude for piano (c.1966)
  • Embryo Suite for accordion solo, Op. 96 (1968)
  • Variation for Eugene Ormandy (On the Occasion of His 70th Birthday) for piano (1969)
  • Romanza for piano, Op. 110 (1978)
  • Offertory for piano, Op. 113 (1980)
  • Interlude for piano, Op. 114 (1980)
  • Prelude and Dance for 2 pianos, Op. 120 (1982)

Vocal

  • Seems Lak de Love Dreams Just Wont Last for voice and piano (c.1923); words by Marguerite T. George
  • "I Am He Who Walks the States..." for voice and piano
  • The Bird of the Wilderness for voice and piano, Op. 2
  • Thanatopses, 4 Songs to Death for voice and piano (or voice, piano and string quartet), Op. 7 (1935); words by Rabindranath Tagore
  • Three Sonnets for voice and piano, Op. 10 (1936); words by Arthur Davison Ficke
  • Dance Variations for coloratura soprano and orchestra, Op. 30 (1941–1942)
  • Psalm XXIII for high voice and piano, Op. 37 (1945); original for soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra
  • Three Songs for voice and piano, Op. 46 (1950); words by Edward Pinkney and John Neihardt
  • The Lambs to the Lamb for voice and piano, Op. 47 (1950); original version for female chorus and piano or organ; words by Martha Nicholson Kemp
  • French Canadian Folk Songs for voice and piano, Op. 49 (1950)
  • Ave Maria for voice and piano, Op. 57 (1953)
  • La Lettre for voice and piano, Op. 59 (1954)
  • A Song of Joys for voice and piano, Op. 63 (1955); words by Walt Whitman
  • Song of Sicily for voice and piano (1964); from the TV score Invasion of Sicily
  • Nocturne for soprano or tenor and 11 instruments, Op. 83 (1964); words by W. H. Auden
  • Palermo in the Moonlight for voice and piano (1964); words by Mitchell Parish
  • From The Psalmist for contralto and orchestra, Op. 91 (1967)
  • Cantilena from Sadhana for voice and piano, Op. 117 (1981); original for cello and orchestra; also for cello and piano
  • Carousel Song for voice and piano; words by Arthur Newman

Choral

  • Three Chorales from Tagore for mixed chorus a cappella, Op. 11; words by Rabindranath Tagore
  • Missa Pro Defunctis ("Requiem Mass") for male chorus and organ, Op. 15 (1938)
  • Dedication for mixed chorus and piano (or organ, or string orchestra), Op. 22 (1940); originally entitled Dirge; words by Arturo Giovannitti
  • Here Is Thy Footstool for mixed chorus a cappella
  • Psalm XXIII for soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 37 (1945); also for voice and piano; also a version for male chorus and piano
  • Missa Solemnis for mixed chorus or male chorus and organ or orchestra, Op. 44
  • Two Motets for male chorus and organ, Op. 45 (1950)
  • The Lambs to the Lamb for female chorus and piano or organ, Op. 47 (1950); also a version for voice and piano; words by Martha Nicholson Kemp
  • Black and Tan America for baritone, mixed chorus and piano, Op. 51 (1951); words by Charles H. Stern
  • Missa "Adoro Te" for mixed chorus and organ, Op. 54 (1952)
  • Cindy for mixed chorus and piano (1953)
  • Prayer of Thanksgiving for mixed chorus and organ (1953)
  • Way Up on Old Smoky for mixed chorus and organ (1953)
  • The Celestial Vision for male chorus a cappella, Op. 60 (1954); words by Dante, Walt Whitman, and from the Bhagavad Gita
  • My Lord Upon a Sickle Hangs for mixed chorus (1955?); words by Louis J. Maloof
  • Praise the Lord for mixed chorus a cappella, Op. 72
  • Lilium Regis for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 73 (1958); words by Francis Thompson
  • Isaiah's Prophecy, A Christmas Oratorio for soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 80 (1962)
  • Mass of the Angels for unison voices (1966)
  • Now Thank We All Our God for mixed chorus and organ, Op. 88 (1966)
  • None Lives For Ever for female chorus and piano or organ, Op. 92 (1967); words by Rabindranath Tagore
  • Missa "Cum Jubilo" for mixed chorus a cappella (or with piano, organ, or string orchestra), Op. 97 (1968)
  • Hyas Illahee: A Corosymfonic Suite (The Northwest Corosymfonic Suite) for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 98 (1969)
  • Leaves of Grass for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 100 (1970); words by Walt Whitman
  • Calamus for baritone, mixed chorus, brass ensemble, timpani and percussion, Op. 104 (1972); words by Walt Whitman
  • Liberty Song '76 for mixed chorus and concert band, Op. 107 (1975); also for band
  • Prodigal for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 115 (1980); words by Renato M. Getti
  • O Come, Let Us Sing for mixed chorus and organ, Op. 119 (1982); text adapted from Psalms 92, 95, and 96

TV and film scores

  • Lake Carrier (1942)
  • Brought to Action (1945)
  • Air Power, TV series (1956)
  • The Twentieth Century
    , TV series (7 episodes, 1958–1964)
    • The Russo-Finnish War (November 16, 1958)
    • Revolt in Hungary (December 14, 1958); Creston received a Christopher Award.
    • The Frozen War (February 8, 1959)
    • Suicide Run to Murmansk (November 1, 1959)
    • Typhoon at Okinawa (November 26, 1961)
    • The Great Weather Mystery (December 24, 1961)
    • Invasion of Sicily (January 19, 1964)
  • In the American Grain, documentary on poet
    Emmy Award
    for his score.

Incomplete works

  • Pantonal Lullaby, Op. 121

Literary works

  • Principles of Rhythm, F. Colombo, New York (1964)
  • The Beat Goes On (1969)
  • Creative Harmony, New York (1970)
  • Music and Mass Media (1970)
  • A Composer's Creed (1971)
  • Rational Metric Notation, Exposition Press, New York (1979)

Bibliography

  • Creston, Paul (1964). Principles of Rhythm. New York: F. Columbo.
    OCLC 335167
    .
  • Creston, Paul (1979). Rational metric notation : the mathematical basis of meters, symbols, and note-values. Hicksville, New York: Exposition Press. .
  • Simmons, Walter. Voices in the Wilderness: Six American Neo-Romantic Composers. (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2006) .
  • Slomski, Monica J. (1994). Paul Creston : a bio-bibliography. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. .

References

  1. .
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ Slomski, p. 62.
  4. OCLC 11073913
  5. ^ a b Crutchfield, Will (August 26, 1985). "Paul Creston, 78, Composer and Romantic Stylist, Dead". The New York Times.


Paul Creston. Premieres and Performances. 1941 to 1951

External links