(Born; Seattle, 26 May 1938). American composer and pianist. He studied with Milhaud at Mills College (1958-61) and Leland Smith at Stanford (1961-4) and began teaching at the University of Michigan in 1973. As a pianist he has taken a leading part in the revival of ragtime and other American vernacular music. His works are polystylistic and concerned with momentous philosophical and religious themes: they include a monumental setting of Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience for soloists, choirs and orchestra (1956-81).(c)Groves Dictionaries, MacMillan Publishers Limited, UK