parker@psuvax.UUCP (02/06/84)
"Weird"? That's a tad contrite dismissal of such a serious, innovative,
and, perhaps, America's greatest composer. He is in many ways our
most authentically American composer -- combining American folk tunes,
church hymns, and band marches with his own earnest notions and use of
polyphony. He is also an outrageous humorist, e.g. "Variations on America."
My favorites among his works are the 4th Symphony, the 2nd Piano Sonata,
and the Second Orchestral Set. Not bad for someone who also restructured
the insurance industry.
You might be interested in a biography of him by Frank Rossiter
entitled "Charles Ives and His America".
--
Bruce Parker
Computer Science Department (814) 865-7292
321 Whitmore Lab {allegra|ihnp4}!psuvax!parker
The Pennsylvania State University parker@penn-state (csnet)
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 parker@psuvax1 (bitnet)