In the 20th century Piston was considered an important American composer. Back in 2007 I could write “Walter Piston needs no advocacy. He is recognized as one of the American masters and one of the country’s major 20th Century symphonists, with an output of eight such compositions written between 1937 and 1965”, but I’m not sure I could anymore. In fact I should write “Walter Piston is badly in need of advocacy these days. Only the old-timers remember that he used to be recognized as one of the American masters and one of the country’s major 20th Century symphonists”.
I’ve now reposted on Discophage.com most of my Piston reviews.
Piano Sonata (1926), Improvisation (1945), Passacaglia (1943), Piano Quintet (1949). Leonard Hokanson, The Portland String Quartet. Northeastern NR 232-CD (1988)
Passacaglia (1943). Roger Shields 1976 in “Piano Music in America 1900-1945” (+ Works by Edward MacDowell, Charles Griffes, George Antheil, Henry Cowell, George Gershwin, John Alden Carpenter, Virgil Thomson, Samuel Barber, Wallingford Riegger, Carl Ruggles, Charles Ives, Roy Harris, Rober Sessions, William Schuman, Aaron Copland, Ragtimes). 3 CDs Vox VoxBox CD3X 3027 (1993)
Sonatina for violin and piano (1945) by Robert Davidovici and Steven de Groote, in “Robert Davidovici, violin”, New World Records 334-2 (1987) with works of Hugh Aitken, Copland, Paul Schoenfield, Gunther Schuller.
String Quartet No. 5. The Kohon Quartet in “The American Composers Series: American String Quartets 1900-1950″ (+ William Schuman, Howard Hanson, Virgil Thomson, George Gershwin, Roger Sessions, Charles Ives, Peter Mennin, Aaron Copland). 2 CDs VoxBox CDX 5090 (1993)
String Quartets Nos. 1 (1933), 2 (1935) & 3 (1947). The Portland String Quartet. Northeastern NR 9001 CD (1988)
String Quartets Nos. 4 (1953) & 5 (1962), Quintet for Flute and String Quartet (1942). Doriot Anthony Dwyer (flute), The Portland String Quartet. Northeastern NR 9002 CD (1988)
Concertino for Piano (1937) in “The American Composers Series: American Concertos” (+ Works by Benjamin Lees, Robert Starer, Meyer Kupferman, Michael Colgrass, Lou Harrison, William Bergsma). 2 CDs VoxBox CDX 5158 (1996)
Violin Concerto No. 1 (1939). Louis Kaufman, London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Hermann 1956 (+ Copland Violin Sonata and other American Works for Violin). Bay Cities BCD 1019 (1990)
Concerto for Two Pianos & Orchestra (1958). Joshua Pierce & Dorothy Jonas, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, David Amos (+ Morton Gould: Dance Variations for Two Pianos & Orchestra, Aaron Copland: Works for Two Pianos. Koch International Classics 3-7002-2 or 3-7002-2 H1 (1990)
Same recording in “American Music For Two Pianos And Orchestra” (+ Morton Gould: Dance Variations, Quincy Porter: Concerto concertante for Two Pianos). Helicon Records HE 1044 (1999)
Symphony No. 1 (1937). The Louisville Orchestra, Jorge Mester (+ Works of Robert Kurka, Peter Mennin). First Edition Encores Albany TROY044 (1991)
Symphonies Nos. 5 (1956), 7 (1960), 8 (1965). The Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney (in Symphony No. 5), Jorge Mester. Albany First Edition Series AR011 (1988), augmented reissue (with Serenata for Orchestra, 1957) First Edition Music FECD-0010 (2002)