The Unknown Randall Thompson: "Honkeytonk Tunesmith, Broadway Ivory-Tickler"

Schmidt features the talented Randall Thompson, who might appear unknown to some readers. According to him, Thompson's career also included distinguished academic accomplishments as teacher, choral conductor, director or department chair with appointments at Wellesley College, the Curtis Institute, the University of Virginia, Princeton University, and Harvard University. Schmidt examines here a single critical year in Thompson's development that predates all of the accomplishments in the seminal year 1926. This is the year that Thompson "hung out his shingle" in New York City to make a living as a composer.