Persichetti, Vincent (1915–1987)

US composer. His Lincoln Address of 1973 was scheduled for first performance at Richard Nixon's inauguration in Washington, DC; the performance was postponed owing to an allusion to the Vietnam War.

He studied piano with Alberto Jonás (1868–1943) and Olga Samaroff (1882–1948), composition with Paul Nordoff (1909–77) and Roy Harris, and conducting with Fritz Reiner. He taught composition at the Philadelphia Conservatory 1942–48, then taught at the Juilliard School, New York .

Works Opera and stage the operas Parable XX (1976) and Sibyl (1984); ballet King Lear;

Orchestral 9 symphonies (1942–71); 14 serenades for different instrumental groups; The Hollow Men for trumpet and string orchestra; piano concerto.

Chamber 2 piano quintets, 4 string quartets (1939–72), 12 piano sonatas, 6 piano sonatinas; vocal music.