zoom_in Click to enlarge

Walter Piston

▲ ▼

description Walter Piston Overview

Walter Piston was an American composer, teacher, and music theorist who lived from 1894 to 1976. He taught at Harvard University and wrote influential textbooks on harmony, counterpoint, orchestration, and composition. His own music includes symphonies, concertos, chamber works, and other orchestral compositions, often combining clear formal structure with modern harmonic language. He received two Pulitzer Prizes for his symphonies.

help Walter Piston FAQ

Where did Walter Piston teach, and when was he active there?

Walter Piston taught at Harvard University from 1926 to 1960. He was an American composer and theorist who lived from 1894 to 1976.

Which Walter Piston textbooks are most important?

His best-known teaching books are Harmony, Counterpoint, and Orchestration. The original editions appeared in 1941, 1947, and 1955 respectively.

Which Walter Piston works won Pulitzer Prizes?

Piston's Symphony No. 3 won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Music, and Symphony No. 7 won in 1961. His ballet The Incredible Flutist is another frequently performed work.

Did Walter Piston teach Leonard Bernstein?

Yes, Leonard Bernstein studied with Piston at Harvard, alongside students such as Elliott Carter and Leroy Anderson. Piston was known for teaching harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration with a practical focus on clear musical structure.