Randall Thompson

Ira Randall Thompson (April 21, 1899 – July 9, 1984) was an American composer, particularly noted for his choral works, and educator.

Career Thompson attended The Lawrenceville School, where his father was an English teacher. He then attended Harvard University, studying under A.T. Davison, Edward Burlingame Hill, and Walter Spalding; in New York he studied privately with composer Ernest Bloch. The lyrics are lifted from the "Americana" section of H. L. Mencken's American Mercury magazine, which would reprint quotes and stories from U.S. publications. The song cycle's texts come from such publications as the Seattle, Washington, Post-Intelligencer, the Little Rock, Arkansas, Gazette, and a leaflet issued by the National Women's Christian Temperance Union. Established in 1964, this award sought "to bring a declaration of appreciation to an individual each year that has made a significant contribution to the world of music and helped to create a climate in which our talents may find valid expression." He was also a recipient of Yale University's Sanford Medal.

Works

Choral works The Last Invocation (1922) Odes of Horace (1924) Pueri Hebraeorum (1928) Americana (1932) The Peaceable Kingdom (1936) – inspired by the painting by Edward Hicks and based on texts chosen from Isaiah Tarantella (1937) – on text by Hilaire Belloc Alleluia (1940) The Testament of Freedom (1943) – texts from Thomas Jefferson The Last Words of David (1949) Mass of the Holy Spirit (1955) Ode to the Virginian Voyage (1956) Requiem – A Dramatic Dialogue (1958) Glory to God in the Highest (1958) Frostiana: Seven Country Songs (1959) – a setting of poems by Robert Frost The Best of Rooms (1963) – based on text by Robert Herrick A Feast of Praise (1963) – based on biblical texts A Psalm of Thanksgiving (1967) Place of the Blest (1968) – based on texts by Robert Herrick and Richard Wilbur Bitter-Sweet (1970) A Concord Cantata (1975) – secular cantata based on texts by Edward Everett Hale, Allen French and Robert Frost The Twelve Canticles (1983) – Thompson's last composition – Dedicated to the Emory and Henry College Concert Choir – Based on eleven of Thompson's favorite passages from the Bible The Passion According to St. Luke, commissioned for the 150th anniversary of the Handel and Haydn Society The Nativity According to St. Luke Velvet Shoes

Operas Solomon and Balkis

Symphonies Symphony No. 1 (1931) Symphony No. 2 (1931) Symphony No. 3 (1947–49)

String quartets Quartet No. 1 in D minor (1941) Quartet No. 2 in G major (1967)