born Dec. 11, 1908, New York, N.Y., U.S.
U.S. composer.
Born to a wealthy family, he studied English and music at Harvard University and later studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger . He taught at many institutions, after 1972 primarily at the Juilliard School. He absorbed a range of influences, including Igor Stravinsky and Charles Ives . His style evolved into a densely contrapuntal, dissonant, and rhythmically complex texture in which the various instrumental parts frequently suggest conversation and combat. His principal works include a sonata for flute, oboe, cello, and harpsichord (1952), Variations for Orchestra (1955), a double concerto for piano and harpsichord (1961), a piano concerto (1965), Concerto for Orchestra (1969), A Symphony of Three Orchestras (1977), Night Fantasies for piano (1980), and four string quartets (1951, 1959, 1971, 1986), two of which received the Pulitzer Prize. He is often called the greatest American composer of the late 20th century.