The Incredible Walter Piston (1894-1976)

[vandermolen]

The opening of one of the New England Sketches sounds just like the opening of Vaughan Williams's 9th Symphony, both composed at about the same time (1958). I think that his 2nd Symphony is one of the great American symphonies.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I've been enjoying this recent release from Kalmar/Oregon Symphony, pointlessly entitled Spirit of the American Range.



Piston's Incredible Flutist suite is on it. I never listened to this carefully before, but the sheer amount of fun in the score comes as a delightful surprise. It stands in stark contrast to the relative severity of his other music that I've heard. And there's a real dog in it, which makes me like it automatically.

Copland's 3rd Symphony is also here. Its status as a "great American symphony" somewhat puzzles me, because I find it really bombastic and kind of superficial. I can think of a dozen American symphonies off the top of my head that I prefer. But I digress. This is a fine performance, and the third piece, Antheil's Jazz Symphony, is a nice bonus.

[Karl Henning]

I've been enjoying this recent release from Kalmar/Oregon Symphony, pointlessly entitled Spirit of the American Range.



Piston's Incredible Flutist suite is on it. I never listened to this carefully before, but the sheer amount of fun in the score comes as a delightful surprise. It stands in stark contrast to the relative severity of his other music that I've heard. And there's a real dog in it, which makes me like it automatically.

Copland's 3rd Symphony is also here. Its status as a "great American symphony" somewhat puzzles me, because I find it really bombastic and kind of superficial. I can think of a dozen American symphonies off the top of my head that I prefer. But I digress. This is a fine performance, and the third piece, Antheil's Jazz Symphony, is a nice bonus.

I do need to revisit the Flutist.  If you have not heard the Clarinet Concerto, you should:  there is fun in it (not so freewheeling as the Flutist), and affecting tenderness . . . but no severity.

Viz. the Copland . .  I do not know that the Judd/EnnZedd recording on Naxos would sway you (and perhaps you know it already, and hear it somewhat otherwise than do I);  I do remember feeling that it is less bombastic than whatever performance I chanced to hear on WCRB one fine Saturday afternoon.

Or, who knows?  Maybe a symphony "that goes, TA-DAAA!" is a pre-requisite for The Great American Symphony . . . .

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Viz. the Copland . .  I do not know that the Judd/EnnZedd recording on Naxos would sway you (and perhaps you know it already, and hear it somewhat otherwise than do I);  I do remember feeling that it is less bombastic than whatever performance I chanced to hear on WCRB one fine Saturday afternoon.

Or, who knows?  Maybe a symphony "that goes, TA-DAAA!" is a pre-requisite for The Great American Symphony . . . .

I don't actually dislike the Copland. It begins powerfully and has many arresting episodes. I do think it's too drawn-out for its material, and sounds too much like "poster music" (a la some of the noisier DSCH symphonies). And maybe I'm just sick of hearing that fanfare everywhere. I much prefer the "3rds" it is usually bracketed with (Schuman, Harris).

In fact, might Wally Piston be an overall better composer than Copland? Certainly his quiet professionalism and academic rigor have lasted better with me.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I'd think you would also enjoy Symphony No. 4.  Munch did a great recording of Symphony No. 6 for RCA.  The Tilson Thomas recording is definitely the one to have for the 2nd.

And I've been listening to the 6th Symphony off this, the original LP issue. A very fine performance by the orchestra for which Piston wrote it. I don't feel that Schwarz is far behind, though.

[Karl Henning]

In fact, might Wally Piston be an overall better composer than Copland? Certainly his quiet professionalism and academic rigor have lasted better with me.

I need gto know more of Piston's work before I could offer an opinion on the question.  But I certainly think more of Piston's Clarinet Concerto than of Copland's, FWIW.

[vandermolen]

I've been enjoying this recent release from Kalmar/Oregon Symphony, pointlessly entitled Spirit of the American Range.



Piston's Incredible Flutist suite is on it. I never listened to this carefully before, but the sheer amount of fun in the score comes as a delightful surprise. It stands in stark contrast to the relative severity of his other music that I've heard. And there's a real dog in it, which makes me like it automatically.

Copland's 3rd Symphony is also here. Its status as a "great American symphony" somewhat puzzles me, because I find it really bombastic and kind of superficial. I can think of a dozen American symphonies off the top of my head that I prefer. But I digress. This is a fine performance, and the third piece, Antheil's Jazz Symphony, is a nice bonus.

I like this CD too but really like Copland's Third Symphony.

[cilgwyn]

Oh well,at least you're post isn't about whether Piston only ever wrote one good symphony!
Seriously,I like that cd of Piston's 5,7 & 8. I think the main problem I have with Piston is whether any of his music really stays in my mind after I listen to it. Don't get me wrong;I do like Piston's music;but I can't think of anything as memorable,as say, Schuman's Sixth. After I heard it,that snarling brass kept going around & around in my head. I just couldn't get enough of it.

I was just thinking what idiot wrote this.........then I realised it was me!! Piston has one of the most immediately identifiable profile of any American composer. And yes,the opening of his Second Symphony is one of the best in the American canon,and chock full of imaginative,memorable ideas. As the satirical magazine Private Eye might put it,"Shome mistake,ed!" What a dumb post!!

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for the smile, mate!

[vandermolen]

I was just thinking what idiot wrote this.........then I realised it was me!! Piston has one of the most immediately identifiable profile of any American composer. And yes,the opening of his Second Symphony is one of the best in the American canon,and chock full of imaginative,memorable ideas. As the satirical magazine Private Eye might put it,"Shome mistake,ed!" What a dumb post!!

OT

Reminds me of my only experience of skiing on a school trip to Austria when I was 11 or 12. I saw a single ski go shooting down the mountain on its own. I though 'what idiot does that belong to?' Looked down and realised it was my own ski.   

[cilgwyn]

  An excellent analogy!
Here is an example of someone with two ski's firmly in place!

Enjoyed my first listen to the Second Symphony yesterday, wonderful piece. Will listen again, and scramble together a semi-intelligent thought or two . . . .

I could have done with one or two (or even one of those!)

[cilgwyn]

I would listen to some  Walter Piston;but I'm listening to Bessie Smith at the moment. You've got to go with the flow,as they say! And blues music from the twenties really does feel appropriate at the moment!!
Shocking that there aren't new recordings of some of the later symphonies,though! Whatever happened to Albany. They started off so well. They seem to have gone downhill like Chandos.

[calyptorhynchus]

I have the Naxos SQs 1, 3, 5 and like them a lot. I was having difficulty finding nos 2 & 4 with the Portland SQ disks being out of the catalogue and expensive 2nd hand.

I found the 2nd on YouTube in a 1942 recording and 4 at www.archive.org where you can listen to the Portland SQ disk streaming. Might be worth investigating as a source for hard to find recordings (previously I've only used it to find scanned copies of Victorian books).

[Karl Henning]

An excellent analogy!
Here is an example of someone with two ski's firmly in place!
I could have done with one or two (or even one of those!)

Cor, thanks for the reminder!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Karl Henning]

An excellent analogy!
Here is an example of someone with two ski's firmly in place!
I could have done with one or two (or even one of those!)

The "cakewalk" second theme in the first movement insinuated itself into my favor ... typically, it's the kind of thing I might be inclined to tut-tut, but Piston carries it off. The sostenuto writing in the second movement is ravishing, and the clarinet solo, which is simplicity itself, is lovely. The robust, marziale third movement is assured and excellent. I like the symphony very much, thanks for reminding me that I meant to listen again!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[vandermolen]

I've just discovered Piston's Concerto for Two Pianos and Otchestra which I found very engaging, not at all 'academic' rather like Copland in places and with a soulful slow movement. Furthermore the CD itself was a good find also including Porter's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra and the memorably catchy Dance Variations for Two Pianos and Orchestra by Morton Gould. I read somewhere that the Piston work is considered one of his finest scores. CD issued by Helicon.

[Mirror Image]

I've just discovered Piston's Concerto for Two Pianos and Otchestra which I found very engaging, not at all 'academic' rather like Copland in places and with a soulful slow movement. Furthermore the CD itself was a good find also including Porter's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra and the memorably catchy Dance Variations for Two Pianos and Orchestra by Morton Gould. I read somewhere that the Piston work is considered one of his finest scores. CD issued by Helicon.

One thing I've never understood is the charge of 'academic' against Piston. I have yet to hear a work of his that I didn't find enjoyment in.

[Mahlerian]

One thing I've never understood is the charge of 'academic' against Piston. I have yet to hear a work of his that I didn't find enjoyment in.

Well, Piston was an academic in the literal sense, and he wrote several textbooks still in use today.

As a description of music, academic has no real meaning, except as a pejorative with a vague whiff of the ivory tower elite.

[Mirror Image]

Well, Piston was an academic in the literal sense, and he wrote several textbooks still in use today.

As a description of music, academic has no real meaning, except as a pejorative with a vague whiff of the ivory tower elite.

Yep, I think you nailed it with 'pejorative with a vague whiff of the ivory tower elite.' Those people obviously haven't actually listened to Piston's music, but that should be no surprise.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Piston's 6th Symphony is gonna be performed at Grant Park this summer (following a performance there of the 2nd last year). Thanks again, Carlos Kalmar!