Edward Toner Cone (May 4, 1917 – October 23, 2004) was an American composer, music theorist, pianist, and philanthropist.

Life and career

Cone was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He studied composition under Roger Sessions at Princeton University, receiving his bachelor's in 1939 (Latin salutatorian and the first Princeton student to submit a musical composition as his senior thesis). Cone and Milton Babbitt were the first to earn graduate degrees in musical composition from Princeton (MFA, 1942). He studied piano with Karl Ulrich Schnabel and Edward Steuermann. During the Second World War, Cone served first in the army (as a pianist) and later in the Office of Strategic Services. Beginning in 1946, he taught at Princeton. He was the co-editor of the journal Perspectives of New Music between 1965 and 1969. Cone, known for his contributions to music criticism and analysis, also composed a significant body of music. His scholarly work addressed musical form and aesthetics, particularly questions of rhythm and musical phrasing. He died in Princeton, New Jersey, aged 87. Cone was the companion of Princeton philosophy professor George Pitcher for nearly 48 years. Cone's students include Michael Dellaira, Hobart Earle, Alan Fletcher, Robert Greenberg, John Heiss, David Lewin, Gilbert Levine, Mathilde McKinney, Robert P. Morgan, Mario Pelusi, Malcolm Peyton, Harold Powers, Victor Rosenbaum, John Solum, Richard Aaker Trythall, Beth Wiemann, and Edgar Warren Williams. Cone was a member of both the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Composition

Instrumental works

Orchestra

Solo instrument and orchestra

Small ensemble (3–14 players)

Duos

Solo strings

Solo keyboard

Cadenzas

Completions

Choral and solo vocal works

Chorus and orchestra

Chorus, solo voice, and orchestra

Chorus and small ensemble

Chorus and keyboard

A capella chorus

Solo voice and orchestra

Solo voice and small ensemble

Solo voice and single instrument

Books

Edited volumes

Articles and reviews

1940–49 1950–59 1960–69 1970–79 1980–89 1990–99 2000–09