Paul Creston
Encyclopedia
Paul Creston was an Italian American
composer
of classical music
.
Born in New York City
to Sicilian immigrants, Creston was self‐taught as a composer. He was an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, initiated into the national honorary Alpha Alpha chapter. His work tends to be fairly conservative in style, with a strong rhythm
ic element. His pieces include six symphonies
, a number of concerto
s, including two for violin
, one for marimba
and orchestra (premiered by Ruth Stuber), one for one piano, one for two piano
s, one for accordion
and one for alto saxophone
(the latter dedicated to Cecil Leeson
), a fantasia for trombone
and orchestra (composed for and premiered by Robert Marsteller
), and a Rapsodie
again for alto saxophone - written for famous virtuoso Jean-Marie Londeix
. He also wrote a suite (1935) and a sonata (op. 19, 1939) for alto saxophone and piano (both dedicated to Cecil Leeson), as well as a suite for organ
, Op. 70. Several of his works were inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman
. He died in Poway, CA, a suburb of San Diego.
Creston was one of the most performed American composers of the 1940s and 50s. Several of his works have become staples of the wind band repertoire. The Zanoni, Prelude, and Dance, and Celebration Overtures have been and still are on several state lists for contests across the USA.
Creston was also a notable teacher, with the composers Irwin Swack
, John Corigliano
, Elliott Schwartz
and Charles Roland Berry
, accordionist/composer William Schimmel
and the jazz musicians Rusty Dedrick
and Charlie Queener among his pupils. He wrote the theoretical books Principles of Rhythm (1964) and Rational Metric Notation (1979).
In 2008 Marco Ciccone has done a version for saxophone and orchestra of Sonata op.19 (© 2008 by Templeton Publishing, a div. of Shawnee Press, Inc.)
Orchestral
Concert band
Concertante
Chamber music
Keyboard
Vocal
Choral
TV and film scores
Incomplete works
Literary works
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Sicilian immigrants, Creston was self‐taught as a composer. He was an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, initiated into the national honorary Alpha Alpha chapter. His work tends to be fairly conservative in style, with a strong rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
ic element. His pieces include six symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, a number of concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
s, including two for violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, one for marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
and orchestra (premiered by Ruth Stuber), one for one piano, one for two piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
s, one for accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and one for alto saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
(the latter dedicated to Cecil Leeson
Cecil Leeson
Cecil Leeson , a musician and teacher, was widely credited with establishing the saxophone as a legitimate concert instrument....
), a fantasia for trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and orchestra (composed for and premiered by Robert Marsteller
Robert Marsteller
Robert Loren Marsteller . Prominent US symphonic trombonist and music educator. He was a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Emory Remington...
), and a Rapsodie
Rhapsody (music)
A rhapsody in music is a one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations...
again for alto saxophone - written for famous virtuoso Jean-Marie Londeix
Jean-Marie Londeix
Jean-Marie Londeix is a French saxophonist born in Libourne who studied saxophone, piano, harmony and chamber music.Jean-Marie Londeix studied saxophone with the legendary Marcel Mule at the Paris Conservatory. He also studied with Fernand Oubradous and Norbert Dufourcq, among others...
. He also wrote a suite (1935) and a sonata (op. 19, 1939) for alto saxophone and piano (both dedicated to Cecil Leeson), as well as a suite for organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, Op. 70. Several of his works were inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
. He died in Poway, CA, a suburb of San Diego.
Creston was one of the most performed American composers of the 1940s and 50s. Several of his works have become staples of the wind band repertoire. The Zanoni, Prelude, and Dance, and Celebration Overtures have been and still are on several state lists for contests across the USA.
Creston was also a notable teacher, with the composers Irwin Swack
Irwin Swack
Irwin Swack was an American composer of contemporary classical music.He held degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music , the Juilliard School, Northwestern University , and Columbia University...
, John Corigliano
John Corigliano
John Corigliano is an American composer of classical music and a teacher of music. He is a distinguished professor of music at Lehman College in the City University of New York.-Biography:...
, Elliott Schwartz
Elliott Schwartz
Elliott Schwartz is an American composer. A graduate of Columbia University, He was Beckwith Professor Emeritus of music at Bowdoin College joining the faculty in 1964. In 2006, the Library of Congress acquired his papers to make them part of their permanent collection...
and Charles Roland Berry
Charles Roland Berry
Charles Roland Berry is an American composer. He studied music history and music composition at the University of California with and Peter Racine Fricker. Mr. Fricker taught him the intricate details of serialist music, and to discipline his musical imagination...
, accordionist/composer William Schimmel
William Schimmel
William Schimmel is one of the principal architects in the resurgence of the accordion, and the philosophy of "Musical Reality"...
and the jazz musicians Rusty Dedrick
Rusty Dedrick
Lyle "Rusty" Dedrick was an American swing and bop jazz trumpeter and composer born in Delevan, New York, probably better known for his work with Bill Borden, Dick Stabile, Red Norvo, Ray McKinley or Claude Thornhill, among others.-External links:**...
and Charlie Queener among his pupils. He wrote the theoretical books Principles of Rhythm (1964) and Rational Metric Notation (1979).
In 2008 Marco Ciccone has done a version for saxophone and orchestra of Sonata op.19 (© 2008 by Templeton Publishing, a div. of Shawnee Press, Inc.)
Selected works
Stage- Two Choric Dances – "Time Out of Mind", Ballet, Op. 17a (1938)
- A Tale About the Land, An American Folk Ballet for voice, piano, clarinet and percussion, Op. 23 (1940)
Orchestral
- Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking (1934); after a poem by Walt WhitmanWalt WhitmanWalter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
- Gregorian Chant for string orchestra; arrangement of movement III from String Quartet, Op. 8
- Fugue for string orchestra; arrangement of movement IV from String Quartet, Op. 8
- Threnody, Op. 16 (1938)
- Two Choric Dances, Op. 17 (1938); for chamber orchestra (Op. 17a) or orchestra (Op. 17b)
- Symphony No. 1, Op. 20 (1940)
- Prelude and Dance, Op. 25 (1941)
- A Rumor, Op. 27 (1941)
- Pastorale and Tarantella, Op. 28 (1941)
- Fantasy Op. 32 (1942)
- Chant of 1942, Op. 33 (1943)
- Frontiers, Op. 34 (1943)
- Symphony No. 2, Op. 35 (1944)
- Poem, Op. 39 (1945)
- Symphony No. 3 "Three Mysteries", Op. 48 (1950)
- Symphony No. 4, Op. 52 (1951)
- Walt Whitman, Op. 53 (1952)
- Invocation and Dance, Op. 58 (1953)
- Dance Overture, Op. 62 (1954)
- Symphony No. 5, Op. 64 (1955)
- Lydian Ode, Op. 67
- Toccata, Op. 68 (1957)
- Pre-Classic Suite, Op. 71 (1957)
- Corinthians XIII, Tone Poem, Op. 82 (1963)
- Choreographic Suite, Op. 86 (1965); for chamber orchestra (Op. 86a) or orchestra (Op. 86b)
- Introit "Hommage à Pierre MonteuxPierre MonteuxPierre Monteux was an orchestra conductor. Born in Paris, France, Monteux later became an American citizen.-Life and career:Monteux was born in Paris in 1875. His family was descended from Sephardi Jews who came to France in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition. He studied violin from an early age,...
", Op. 87 (1965–1966) - Airborne Suite (1966)
-
- Evening in Texas
- Sunrise in Puerto Rico
- High Noon – Montreal
- Midnight – Mexico
- Pavanne Variations, Op. 86 (1966)
- Chthonic Ode "Homage to Henry MooreHenry MooreHenry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
" for large orchestra with euphoniumEuphoniumThe euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, celesta and piano, Op. 90 (1966) - Thanatopsis, Op. 101 (1971)
- Suite for string orchestra, Op. 109 (1978)
- Symphony No. 6 "Organ Symphony" for organ and orchestra, Op. 118 (1981)
- Evening in Texas
- Kangaroo Kaper
- Rumba - Tarantella
- Sunrise in Puerto Rico
Concert band
- Legend, Op. 31 (1942)
- Zanoni, Op. 40 (1946)
- Celebration Overture, Op. 61 (1954)
- Prelude and Dance, Op. 76 (1959)
- Anatolia (Turkish Rhapsody), Op. 93 (1967)
- Kalevala, Fantasy on Finnish Folk Songs, Op. 95 (1968)
- Jubilee, Op. 102 (1971)
- Liberty Song '76, Op. 107 (1975); also for mixed chorus and concert band
- Festive Overture, Op. 116 (1980)
Concertante
- Concertino for marimba and orchestra (or concert band), Op. 21 (1940) (premiered by Ruth Stuber)
- Concerto for saxophone and orchestra, Op. 26 (1941)
- Concerto for alto saxophone, Op. 26 (1944)
- Fantasy for piano and orchestra, Op. 32 (1942)
- Dawn Mood for piano and orchestra, Op. 36 (1944)
- Poem for harp and orchestra, Op. 39 (1945)
- Homage for viola (or cello) and string orchestra, Op. 41 (1947)
- Fantasy for trombone and orchestra (or concert band), Op. 42 (1947)
- Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 43 (1949)
- Concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra, Op. 50 (1950)
- Concerto No. 1 for violin and prchestra, Op. 65
- Concerto for accordion and orchestra, Op. 75
- Concerto No. 2 for violin and ochestra, Op. 78 (1960)
- Janus for piano and orchestra, Op. 77 (1959)
- Fantasy for accordion and orchestra, Op. 85 (1964); also for accordion solo
- Sādhanā for cello and orchestra, Op. 117 (1981)
Chamber music
- Three Poems from Walt Whitman for cello and piano, Op. 4
- Suite for alto saxophone or clarinet and piano, Op. 6
- String Quartet, Op. 8 (1936)
- Partita for flute, violin (or 2 violins) and piano (or string orchestra), Op. 12 (1937)
- Suite for viola and piano, Op. 13 (1938)
- Suite for violin and piano, Op. 18
- Sonata for alto saxophone and piano, Op. 19 (1939)
- Meditation for marimba and organ (arrangement of movement II of Concertino, Op. 21)
- Homage for viola (or cello), harp and organ, Op. 41 (1947); also for viola and string orchestra
- Lydian Song for harp solo, Op. 55 (1952)
- Suite for flute, viola and piano, Op. 56 (1953)
- Suite for cello and piano, Op. 66 (1956)
- Olympia, Rhapsody for harp solo, Op. 94 (1968)
- Concertino for piano and woodwind quintet, Op. 99 (1969)
- Ceremonial for percussion ensemble and piano, Op. 103 (1972)
- Rapsodie for saxophone and organ, Op. 108 (1976)
- Suite for saxophone quartet, Op. 111 (1979)
- Piano Trio, Op. 112 (1979)
- Cantilena from Sadhana for cello and piano, Op. 117 (1981); original for cello and orchestra; also for voice and piano
- Fanfare for Paratroopers for brass
Keyboard
- Hippo's Dance for piano
- Kangaroo Kaper for piano
- Little Red Pony for piano
- Moment Musical for piano (1926)
- Phases: Dance Suite for piano
- Prelude and Dance for piano
- Antitheses for piano (1930)
- A Chant of Work for piano (1930)
- Five Dances for piano, Op. 1
- Music for "Iron Flowers" for piano (1933?); incidental music for the play by Cecil LewisCecil LewisCecil Arthur Lewis MC was a British fighter pilot who flew in World War I. He went on to co-found the BBC and enjoy a long career as a writer....
- Seven Theses for piano, Op. 3 (1933)
- Variations on "The First Noel" for organ (1934)
- Sonata for piano, Op. 9
- Five Two-Part Inventions for piano, Op. 14 (1946)
- Five Little Dances for piano, Op. 24
- Prelude and Dance for piano, Op. 29
- Six Preludes for piano, Op. 38
- Prelude and Dance for accordion, Op. 69 (1957)
- Suite for organ, Op. 70
- Fantasia for organ, Op. 74 (1958)
- Wedding Recessional for organ (1961)
- Three Narratives for piano, Op. 79 (1962)
- Pony Rondo (a.k.a. Rondino) for piano solo (1964)
- Rapsodia Breve for organ, Op. 81 (1963)
- Metamorphoses for piano, Op. 84 (1964)
- Fantasy for accordion solo, Op. 85 (1964); also for accordion and orchestra
- Rumba-Tarantella for piano 4-hands (1964)
- Song of Sicily for piano (1964); from the TV film The Twentieth Century: Invasion of Sicily
- Rhythmicon, Piano Studies in Rhythm, 10 Books (1964–1977)
- Interlude for piano (c.1966)
- Embryo Suite for accordion solo, Op. 96 (1968)
- Variation for Eugene Ormandy (On the Occasion of His 70th Birthday) for piano (1969)
- Romanza for piano, Op. 110 (1978)
- Offertory for piano, Op. 113 (1980)
- Interlude for piano, Op. 114 (1980)
- Prelude and Dance for 2 pianos, Op. 120 (1982)
Vocal
- Seems Lak de Love Dreams Just Wont Last for voice and piano (c.1923); words by Marguerite T. George
- "I Am He Who Walks the States..." for voice and piano
- The Bird of the Wilderness for voice and piano, Op. 2
- Thanatopses, 4 Songs to Death for voice and piano (or voice, piano and string quartet), Op. 7 (1935); words by Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
- Three Sonnets for voice and piano, Op. 10 (1936); words by Arthur Davison FickeArthur Davison FickeArthur Davison Ficke was an American poet and lawyer known for several books of poetry, including Sonnets of a Portrait-Painter and for his involvement in the literary hoax of Spectrism . He is also known for his relationship with Edna St...
- Dance Variations for coloratura soprano and orchestra, Op. 30 (1941–1942)
- Psalm XXIII for high voice and piano, Op. 37 (1945); original for soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra
- Three Songs for voice and piano, Op. 46 (1950); words by Edward Pinkney and John NeihardtJohn NeihardtJohnathan Gneisenau Neihardt was an American author of poetry and prose, an amateur historian and ethnographer, and a philosopher of the Great Plains...
- The Lambs to the Lamb for voice and piano, Op. 47 (1950); original version for female chorus and piano or organ; words by Martha Nicholson Kemp
- French Canadian Folk Songs for voice and piano, Op. 49 (1950)
- Ave Maria for voice and piano, Op. 57 (1953)
- La Lettre for voice and piano, Op. 59 (1954)
- A Song of Joys for voice and piano, Op. 63 (1955); words by Walt WhitmanWalt WhitmanWalter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
- Song of Sicily for voice and piano (1964); from the TV score Invasion of Sicily
- Nocturne for soprano or tenor and 11 instruments, Op. 83 (1964); words by W. H. AudenW. H. AudenWystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
- Palermo in the Moonlight for voice and piano (1964); words by Mitchell ParishMitchell ParishMitchell Parish was an American lyricist.-Early life:Parish was born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky to a Jewish family in Lithuania. His family emigrated to the United States, arriving on February 3, 1901 on the SS Dresden when he was less than a year old...
- From The Psalmist for contralto and orchestra, Op. 91 (1967)
- Cantilena from Sadhana for voice and piano, Op. 117 (1981); original for cello and orchestra; also for cello and piano
- Carousel Song for voice and piano; words by Arthur Newman
Choral
- Three Chorales from Tagore for mixed chorus a cappella, Op. 11; words by Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
- Missa Pro Defunctis ("Requiem Mass") for male chorus and organ, Op. 15 (1938)
- Dedication for mixed chorus and piano (or organ, or string orchestra), Op. 22 (1940); originally entitled Dirge; words by Arturo GiovannittiArturo GiovannittiArturo M. Giovannitti was an Italian-American union leader, socialist political activist, and poet. He is best remembered as one of the principal organizers of the 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike and as a defendant in a celebrated trial ensuing from that event.-Early years:Arturo Giovannitti was born...
- Here Is Thy Footstool for mixed chorus a cappella
- Psalm XXIII for soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 37 (1945); also for voice and piano; also a version for male chorus and piano
- Missa Solemnis for mixed chorus or male chorus and organ or orchestra, Op. 44
- Two Motets for male chorus and organ, Op. 45 (1950)
- The Lambs to the Lamb for female chorus and piano or organ, Op. 47 (1950); also a version for voice and piano; words by Martha Nicholson Kemp
- Black and Tan America for baritone, mixed chorus and piano, Op. 51 (1951); words by Charles H. Stern
- Missa "Adoro Te" for mixed chorus and organ, Op. 54 (1952)
- Cindy for mixed chorus and piano (1953)
- Prayer of Thanksgiving for mixed chorus and organ (1953)
- Way Up on Old Smoky for mixed chorus and organ (1953)
- The Celestial Vision for male chorus a cappella, Op. 60 (1954); words by DanteDante AlighieriDurante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...
, Walt WhitmanWalt WhitmanWalter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
, and from the Bhagavad GitaBhagavad GitaThe ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition... - My Lord Upon a Sickle Hangs for mixed chorus (1955?); words by Louis J. Maloof
- Praise the Lord for mixed chorus a cappella, Op. 72
- Lilium Regis for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 73 (1958); words by Francis ThompsonFrancis ThompsonFrancis Thompson was an English poet and ascetic. After attending college, he moved to London to become a writer, but in menial work, became addicted to opium, and was a street vagrant for years. A married couple read his poetry and rescued him, publishing his first book, Poems in 1893...
- Isaiah's Prophecy, A Christmas Oratorio for soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 80 (1962)
- Mass of the Angels for unison voices (1966)
- Now Thank We All Our God for mixed chorus and organ, Op. 88 (1966)
- None Lives For Ever for female chorus and piano or organ, Op. 92 (1967); words by Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
- Missa "Cum Jubilo" for mixed chorus a cappella (or with piano, organ, or string orchestra), Op. 97 (1968)
- Hyas Illahee: A Corosymfonic Suite (The Northwest Corosymfonic Suite) for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 98 (1969)
- Leaves of Grass for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 100 (1970); words by Walt WhitmanWalt WhitmanWalter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
- Calamus for baritone, mixed chorus, brass ensemble, timpani and percussion, Op. 104 (1972); words by Walt WhitmanWalt WhitmanWalter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
- Liberty Song '76 for mixed chorus and concert band, Op. 107 (1975); also for band
- Prodigal for mixed chorus and piano, Op. 115 (1980); words by Renato M. Getti
- O Come, Let Us Sing for mixed chorus and organ, Op. 119 (1982); text adapted from Psalms 92, 95, and 96
TV and film scores
- Lake Carrier (1942)
- Brought to Action (1945)
- Air Power, TV series (1956)
- The Twentieth CenturyTwentieth Century (TV series)The Twentieth Century is a half-hour documentary television series broadcast over CBS-TV from 1957 until 1966. It was hosted and narrated by Walter Cronkite and telecast Sunday evenings...
, TV series (7 episodes, 1958–1964)- The Russo-Finnish War (November 16, 1958)
- Revolt in Hungary (December 14, 1958); Creston received a Christopher AwardChristopher AwardThe Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
. - The Frozen War (February 8, 1959)
- Suicide Run to Murmansk (November 1, 1959)
- Typhoon at Okinawa (November 26, 1961)
- The Great Weather Mystery (December 24, 1961)
- Invasion of Sicily (January 19, 1964)
- In the American Grain, documentary on poet William Carlos WilliamsWilliam Carlos WilliamsWilliam Carlos Williams was an American poet closely associated with modernism and Imagism. He was also a pediatrician and general practitioner of medicine, having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania...
; Creston won an Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for his score.
Incomplete works
- Pantonal Lullaby, Op. 121
Literary works
- Principles of Rhythm, F. Colombo, New York (1964)
- The Beat Goes On (1969)
- Creative Harmony, New York (1970)
- Music and Mass Media (1970)
- A Composer's Creed (1971)
- Rational Metric Notation, Exposition Press, New York (1979)