In the first half of the twentieth century Virgil Thomson became one of the leading figures among progressive American composers. From his early years he established two very differing styles that were to characterize his compositions, with progressive scores written at the same time as his more populist music. The four works included on this disc are among his most immediately attractive scores, the Symphony on a Hymn Tune, dating from 1928, taking a somewhat humorous view of his favourite hymns. The Second Symphony came three years later, with a gap of forty years before the vivacious Third Symphony. Painting a picture of the early American settlers, Pilgrims and Pioneers is taken from his highly descriptive music for the film Journey to America.