A View of Vincent Persichetti's Symphony No. 6 for Band, Op. 69 (1956) and Midcentury Modern Design

Abstract

The works of American composer Vincent Persichetti (1915—1987) reflect postwar American culture. His music, especially Symphony No. 6, offers a musical realization of midcentury Modern architectural and design features. The product of an ever-growing demand for original works for the wind band medium, Symphony No. 6 was born out of the greater landscape of postwar America. By considering the metropolitan cityscape in which Persichetti was immersed, it is possible to approach Symphony No. 6 with a fresh view. The architecture and colors of the music can be interpreted as a manifestation of the urban modernity by which he was surrounded. Through providing a basis for understanding midcentury cultural mores, the music of American Modernism and midcentury architecture and design this document will provide a framework for Persichetti’s Symphony as an aural example of midcentury Modernism. The outcome of such a framework facilitates a fresh interpretation of the sixty-year-old symphonic work, thus creating opportunities for wind band conductors, performers, audience members or connoisseurs of art and design to form relationships between art and music. This interconnectivity of the visual and aural arts bridges interdisciplinary gaps and builds appreciation for multidisciplinary approaches to artistic endeavors.