 The city of his birth, Chicago, and the city of much of his later life, New York, greatly influenced the composer.This is evident in the unpredictable rhythms and syncopation found in many of his works.Bazelon describes his music as having "the rebellious mutterings, cross-rhythms, and nervous tension and energy of the city" and "the alerations of mood, color and dramatic flair are a direct expression of the constant changes of pace, the rhythmic beat of life in the big metropolis".