PISTON, Walter
b Rocklands, Maine, 20 January 1894
d Belmont, Massachusetts, 12 November 1976, aged eighty-two
He taught himself violin and piano and played in theatre orchestras and dance bands. His main studies were in draughtsmanship and architecture. During World War I he played saxophone in a Navy band. He entered Harvard University in 1920 and after graduating in 1924 he went to Paris to study with Boulanger and Dukas. In 1926 he returned to the USA and a position at Harvard teaching there until 1960. He won many prizes and honours, and his books on harmony, counterpoint and orchestration have received international acclaim.
1926 (32)
Three Pieces for flute, clarinet and bassoon
Piano Sonata
1927 (33)
Symphonic Piece
1929 (35)
Suite No 1 for orchestra
1930 (36)
Flute Sonata
1931 (37)
Suite for oboe and piano
1933 (39)
Concerto for orchestra
String Quartet No 1
1934 (40)
Prelude and Fugue for orchestra
1935 (41)
String Quartet No 2
Piano Trio No 1
1937 (43)
Symphony No 1
Concertino, for piano and chamber orchestra
1938 (44)
The Incredible Flutist, ballet
1939 (45)
Violin Concerto No 1
Violin Sonata
1940 (46)
Chromatic Study for organ
1941 (47)
Sinfonietta for orchestra
1942 (48)
Fanfare for the Fighting French
Flute Quintet
Interlude, for viola and piano
1943 (49)
Symphony No 2
Prelude and Allegro for organ and strings
Passacaglia for piano
1944 (50)
Fugue on a Victory Tune
Partita for violin, viola and organ
1945 (51)
Sonata for violin and harpsichord
1946 (52)
Divertimento for nine instruments
1947 (53)
Symphony No 3
String Quartet No 3
1948 (54)
Suite No 2 for orchestra
Toccata for orchestra
1949 (55)
Piano Quintet
Duo for violin and cello
1950 (56)
Symphony No 4
1951 (57)
String Quartet No 4
1952 (58)
Fantasy, for English horn, harp and strings
1954 (60)
Symphony No 5
1955 (61)
Symphony No 6
1956 (62)
Serenata, for orchestra
Quintet for wind
1957 (63)
Viola Concerto
1958 (64)
Psalm and Prayer of David, for chorus and seven instruments
1959 (65)
Three New England Sketches, for orchestra
Concerto for two pianos and orchestra
1960 (66)
Violin Concerto No 2
Symphony No 7
1961 (67)
Symphonic Prelude
1962 (68)
Lincoln Center, festival overture
String Quartet No 5
1963 (69)
Variations on a theme by Edward Burlingame Hill, for orchestra
Capriccio, for harp and string orchestra
1964 (70)
Sextet for stringed instruments
Piano Quartet
1965 (71)
Symphony No 8
Pine Tree Fantasy, for orchestra
1966 (72)
Variations for cello and orchestra
Piano Trio No 2
1967 (73)
Clarinet Concerto
Ricercare, for orchestra
1969 (75)
Ceremonial Fanfare, for wind
1970 (76)
Fantasia, for violin and orchestra
1971 (77)
Flute Concerto
1973 (79)
Duo for cello and piano
1976 (82)
Concerto for string quartet, woodwind and percussion