Randall Thompson
| Randall Thompson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
April 21, 1899 New York, New York |
| Died | July 9, 1984 (aged 85) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Resting place |
Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts 42°22′12″N 71°08′40″W / 42.3701°N 71.1445°W |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | choral composition |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Quayle Whitney |
| Children | Varney, Whitney, Rosemary, Randall Jr. |
| Parent(s) | Dr. Daniel Varney Thompson & Grace B. Randall |
| Relatives | Daniel Varney Thompson, Jr., brother |
Randall Thompson (April 21, 1899 – July 9, 1984) was an American composer, particularly noted for his choral works.
Randall attended The Lawrenceville School, where his father was an English teacher. He then attended Harvard University, became assistant professor of music and choir director at Wellesley College, and received a doctorate in music from the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. He went on to teach at the Curtis Institute of Music (serving as its Director 1941/1942), at the University of Virginia, and at Harvard University. He is particularly noted for his choral works. He was an honorary member of the Rho Tau chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity at Appalachian State University.
Thompson composed three symphonies and numerous vocal works including Americana, The Testament of Freedom, Frostiana, and The Peaceable Kingdom, inspired by Edward Hicks's painting. His most popular and recognizable choral work is his anthem, Alleluia, commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky for the opening of the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. He also wrote the operas Solomon and Balkis and The Nativity According to St. Luke.
Americana, a song cycle, is written in a 20th Century musical art style known as "News Items"—compositions that parody newspaper layout and content, or whose lyrics are lifted from media of the day. 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.
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