(b Rockland, me, 20 Jan 1894; d Belmont, ma , 12 Nov 1976). American composer and teacher. He trained as a draughtsman before studying composition at Harvard (1919-24) and with Dukas and Boulanger in Paris; he then returned to Harvard (1926-60), becoming a renowned theory teacher. His textbook Harmony (1941) has been widely used. His music is in a clear, tonal style suggesting the neo-classical Stravinsky, Fauré and Roussel: the main works include eight symphonies (1937-65), five string quartets (1933-62) and the ballet The Incredible Flutist (1938); little of his output is vocal.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.