Paul Creston was born 10 October 1906 in New York of Italian parentage. Entirely self-taught with the exception of Piano and Organ lessons in his youth Creston pursued studies in theory composition literature and philosophy while working to support himself and his poor immigrant family. Fiercely independent by nature the composer developed his style free of any particular school of thought or teacher's influence and made rhythm a cornerstone of his work often emphasizing shifting subdivisions of regular meters.