Vincent, John (1902–1977)

US composer and teacher. He studied composition with George Chadwick at the New England Conservatory, with Walter Piston at Harvard, and then with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. He was professor of composition at the Univeristy of California at Los Angeles (1946–69) in succession to Schoenberg. He evolved a basically tonal style which he termed ‘paratonality’.

Works Stage works opera Primeval Voice (Vienna, 1973), ballet Three Jacks (1941).

Instrumental Nude Descending a Staircase, for xylophone and strings (1972); Symphony in D (1954); Symphonic Poem after Descartes (1958); La Jolla Concerto (1959); Consort for piano and strings (1960); Benjamin Franklin Suite for orchestra and glass harmonica (1963); two string quartets (1936, 1967).

Vocal Stabat Mater (1970); Mary at Cavalry for soprano, chorus and organ (1976); songs and choruses.