Virgil Thomson

Innovative composer Virgil Thomson was among the more important figures in modern American music. In addition to creating symphonies, chamber works, ballets, and operas, Thomson composed many film scores, including that of Louisiana Story (1948), the only piece of music ever to win a Pulitzer Prize. Drawing from a variety of American musical traditions, Thomson's music had a Midwestern flavor that made it the ideal background for such documentaries as The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936) and the docudrama Journey to America. In addition to composing, Thomson was also an influential music critic who championed avant-garde and other modern forms of music.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide