Thompson, Randall (1899–1984)

US composer. He is chiefly remembered for his choral music and symphonies. He was professor of music at the University of California in 1937, director of the Curtis Institute at Philadelphia in 1939, and a professor at Harvard University from 1948.

He studied at Harvard University, where his teachers included Ernest Bloch. He lived in Rome 1922–25, was assistant professor of music at Wellesley College, and was later appointed to study musical conditions at US colleges.

Works Stage Solomon and Balkis (after Kipling's Just So Stories, 1942); incidental music for Labiche's The Italian Straw Hat.

Orchestral three symphonies (1930–49), Pierrot and Cothurnus (1923) and The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1924), for orchestra; Jazz Poem for piano and orchestra (1928).

Choral Passion according to St Luke, cantata The Testament of Freedom, Odes of Horace for unaccompanied chorus, Rosemary for women's chorus, Americana for mixed chorus and piano.

Chamber two string quartets (1941, 1967), The Wind in the Willows for string quartet; sonata and suite for piano; songs.