P

Pergolesi, Giovanni Battista (b. Jesi, near Ancona, 1710; d. Pozzuoli, near Naples, 1736). Italian composer, violinist, and organist. Studied violin and composition at Naples 1725. Principally talented as composer of comic operas, the first of which, Salustia. In 1733 he composed Il prigioner superbo, now forgotten except for its 2-act intemezzo La serva padrona, which has remained popular. Other operas, recently revived, include Lo frate 'nnamorato (1732), Adriano in Siria (1734), and Il flaminio (1735). His Stabat Mater (1736) for male soprano, male alto and orchestra is still performed. Stravinsky in Pulcinella "recomposed" material by Pergolesi.

PiernŽ, (Henri Constant) Gabriel (b. Metz, 1863; d. Ploujean, Finist�re, 1937). French composer, organist, and conductor. Studied Paris Conservatory from age 8 (organ with Franck, comp. with Massenet). Assistant conductor, Concerts Colonne 1903, becoming principal conductor 1910-1934.

Poulenc, Francis (b. Paris, 1899; d. Paris, 1963). French composer and pianist. Taught piano forte by his mother. At 15 studied with Ricardo Vifies, who encouraged his ambition to composer and introduced him to Satie, Casella, Auric, and others. Wrote operas, ballets, music for films, concertos, chamber and piano music, etc.

Prokofiev, Sergey (Sergeyevich) (b. Sontsovka, 1891; d. Moscow, 1953). Russian composer and pianist. Was taught piano forte at age 3 by his mother, who encouraged him to compose (he wrote an opera at age 9). Studied privately with Gli�re 1903-04. Entered St. Petersburg Conservatory 1904, studying harmony and counterpoint with Lyadov, piano forte with A. Winkler, and orchestration with Rimsky-Korsakov. Later studied piano forte with Anna Essipova and conducting with Tcherepnin. Composed and published several works while student. Visiting Paris and London in 1914 he met Diaghilev, who commissioned a ballet from him (the war upset this plan and the mus. survives as the Scythian Suite, Ala and Lolly). In 1917 he composed his first symphony, the Classical. In 1918 he left Russia for USA, appearing in NY as solo pianist in his own works. His opera Love for Three Oranges was commissioned by Chicago Opera, performed 1921. From 1920 he made his home in Paris, writing 3 ballets for Diaghilev, and having several of his works performed at the orchestra concerts conducted by Koussevitzky, another Russian exile. Never fully at home in the West, Prokofiev re-visited Russia in 1927 and 1929 and returned there to live in 1933, choosing an inopportune moment when the doctrine of socialist realism in the arts had just been propounded. He found an outlet for his particular gifts in film music. He composed music for Lieutenant Kije, Alexander Nevsky and ballets Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella. In 1944 he wrote his most heroic symphony, the 5th. In spite of its success, he was among those in 1948 condemned for "formalism" and was compelled to "confess" his shortcomings in an open letter to the Union of Soviet Composers. He died on the same day as Stalin.