particularly emphasizing jazz, which he considered a revitalizing element in American music. He assimilated popular influences in a simple and straightforward style aimed at communicating with his audiences through an emphasis on clear, accessible, melodic writing. Many of his works are best characterized as fun and full of humor. Chronological list of principal compositions 1936 String Quartet 1 1937 The Panhandle, symphonic suite for orchestra 1937 The Crucifixion, cantata 1937 The Woolyworm, for orchestra 1937 Thoughts Provoked on Becoming a Prospective Papa, symphonic suite 1937 The Raven, after Edgar Allan Poe, for narrator and orchestra 1938 Suite 1 for Wind Quintet 1939 Suite 2 for Wind Quintet 1939 Suite 3 for Wind Quintet 1939–40 Symphony 1, An American Symphony 1940 Intermission – Ten Minutes, symphonic sketch for orchestra 1940 Portrait of a Frontier Town, for orchestra 1940 Symphony 2, Symphony of Faith 1940–41 Symphony 3, A Symphony for Free Men 1941 The Night Before Christmas, for narrator and orchestra 1942 Three Sketches, for strings 1943 Prairie Poem, tone poem 1943 Symphony 4, The Pioneers 1944 The Alamo, tone poem 1944 A Short Overture to an Unwritten Opera, for orchestra 1944–45 Symphony 5, In Memoriam 1945 To An Unknown Soldier, tone poem 1945 This Is Our America, cantata 1945–46 Symphony 5½, A Symphony for Fun 1946 Rhapsody for harp and orchestra 1947 Dude Ranch, tone poem 1947 String Quartet 6 1947 Symphony 6, Mid-Century USA 1948 Symphony 7, Saga of the Prairie School 1949 Shindig, ballet in 7 episodes for orchestra 1950 Symphony 8, A Dance Symphony 1950 Tulsa, a symphonic portrait in oil, for orchestra 1951 Symphony 9, Star-Spangled Symphony 1954 The Coming of The King, for chorus 1956 Piano Concerto 1, Encore Concerto 1956 Pep-Rally, opera for band 1957 The Park Avenue Kids, opera 1957 Five Acre Pond, for oboe and orchestra 1958 The Libretto, opera 1958 Men of Music, for band 1959 The Land of Wheat, suite for band 1961–62 The Legend of Star Valley Junction, opera 1964 Ceremony of Allegiance, for narrator and band 1965 Seven Golden Texts, for narrator voices and orchestra 1966 The Gift of the Magi, opera 1966 World Premiere, opera 1966 Piano Concerto 2 1967 Arturo Toscanini, A Portrait of a Century, for narrator and orchestra 1967 Symphony X (n°10), Big D(allas) 1967-8 The Nazarene, opera 1969 Rhapsody for trumpet and orchestra 1973 Behold the Man, opera 1976 The Secret History of the