Virgil Thomson (1896–1989) was an American composer and critic, widely celebrated for his luminous contributions to 20th-century music. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he studied at Harvard University before heading to Paris, where he honed his craft under the tutelage of the renowned Nadia Boulanger. Thomson's compositional style is marked by its distinctly American flavor, often infused with the spirit of folk tunes and hymns, and notable for its clarity and directness, drawing from various historical and contemporary sources.

Thomson's oeuvre includes film scores, operas, chamber music, and symphonies. His collaborations with the poet Gertrude Stein, notably the operas "Four Saints in Three Acts" and "The Mother of Us All," stand as some of the most imaginative American operatic works of their time. Thomson's film scores, such as those for "The Plow That Broke the Plains" and "Louisiana Story," are equally significant, redefining the use of music in documentary filmmaking. His "Symphony on a Hymn Tune" is an evocative example of his skill in weaving American folk elements into the tapestry of classical forms. As a music critic for The New York Herald Tribune, he further shaped American musical thought with his incisive and often provocative reviews. His legacy not only includes his compositions but also his significant influence on American musical culture, both through his own works and his mentorship of the next generation of composers.

Genres

American Modern Classical

Early Modern Classical

Neoclassicism

Latest Release

Thomson: A Gallery of Portraits for Piano & Other Piano Works

Virgil Thomson

Album - 81 Tracks - Released August 18, 2023