Peter Mennin (born Mennini) (May 17 1923, Erie, Pennsylvania – June 17 1983, New York City) was an American composer and teacher. He directed the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, then for many years ran the Juilliard School, succeeding William Schuman in this role. He began composing at an early age, and wrote nine symphonies, several concertos, and numerous works for wind band, chorus, and other ensembles. His style became more chromatic and astringent with time, but was always essentially tonal, relying heavily on counterpoint.

Juilliard awards a Peter Mennin prize, for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music.

Principal works

• Symphonies
  • Symphony No. 1 withdrawn
  • Symphony No. 2 (1944) (Gershwin Memorial Award, 1945)
  • Symphony No. 3 (1946, premiered 1947)
  • Symphony No. 4 The Cycle (1947–8) (Chorus & orchestra)
  • Symphony No. 5 (1950)
  • Symphony No. 6 (1953)
  • Symphony No. 7 Variation-symphony (commissioned in 1963?4?, pub. 1967)
  • Symphony No. 8 (1973)
  • Symphony No. 9 (1981)

• Other orchestral works
  • Folk Overture (1945)
  • Fantasia for String Orchestra (1947)
  • Concertato Moby Dick (1952)
  • Cello concerto (1956)
  • Piano concerto (1958) (Premiered by Eunice Podis, piano, with George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra)
  • Canto (pub. 1965)
  • Flute concerto (1983)

• Choral Works
  • A Song of the Palace (1948)
  • Christmas Story (1949)

• Chamber works
  • String quartet #1
  • String quartet #2 (1951)
  • Sonata concertante, for violin and piano (1956)
  • Piano sonata (1963)

• Also
  • Canzona for band (1951)

External links

• Symphony No. 8 at New World Requires RealPlayer to Hear the Recording
• Biography on the Same Site
• Carl Fischer Publisher Biography Page