Virgil Thomson was a many-faceted composer of great originality and a music critic of singular brilliance. Thomson composed in almost every genre, utilizing a style marked by sharp wit and overt playfulness, and produced a highly original body of work rooted in American speech rhythms and hymnbook harmony. Among his most famous works are the operas Four Saints in Three Acts and The Mother of Us All (both with texts by Gertrude Stein), scores to The Plow That Broke the Plains and The River (films by Pare Lorentz), and Louisiana Story (film by Robert Flaherty). In addition to his compositions, he was the author of eight books, including an autobiography.
Category: Composers & Foundations
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Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland’s name is synonymous with American music. A composer, conductor, pianist, writer, and educator, the “Dean of American Music” was considered a pioneer in establishing a distinctly American sound in 20th century concert music. In addition to writing such well-loved works as Fanfare for the Common Man, Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring, Copland organized concerts, wrote books on music, supported fellow composers, and served as an American cultural ambassador to the world.
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Elliott Carter
Composer Elliott Carter is internationally recognized as one of the most influential American voices in classical music, and a leading figure of modernism in the 20th and 21st centuries. He was hailed as “America’s great musical poet” by Andrew Porter and noted as “one of America’s most distinguished creative artists in any field” by his friend Aaron Copland. Carter’s prolific career spanned over 75 years, with more than 150 pieces, ranging from chamber music to orchestral works to opera, often marked with a sense of wit and humor.
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The Amphion Foundation, Inc.
The Amphion Foundation, Inc., founded in 1987 by Elliott and Helen Carter, was established to encourage the performance of contemporary concert music, particularly by American composers, through support to performing and presenting organizations that have demonstrated sustained artistic excellence, in addition to service organizations. The Foundation’s mission is carried out through its grant program. The Foundation is also the principal legatee under the wills of Elliott and Helen Carter and has a special interest in supporting significant projects devoted to the music of Elliott Carter.
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The Alice M. Ditson Fund at Columbia University
The Alice M. Ditson Fund was established at Columbia University in 1940 with a bequest from Alice M. Ditson, the widow of the noted Boston music publisher Oliver Ditson. Mrs. Ditson’s will stipulated that income from the bequest be used for non-academic fellowships, public concerts, and publications in support of music. The initial Advisory Committee she appointed directed her intentions toward contemporary music. The Fund has continued this focus, with emphasis on funding of performances and recordings of music by emerging American composers.
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Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc.
In keeping with his lifelong devotion to contemporary music, Aaron Copland created the Fund and bequeathed to it a large part of his estate. The Fund was officially announced to the public in 1992. The Fund’s purpose is to encourage and improve public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American music. The Fund operates three grant programs and also grants permission for the use of Copland’s music.
