As a composer, his music was largely atonal, using methods similar to the twelve-tone technique of the Second Viennese School.

[2] He graduated from DePaul University, where he studied with Wesley LaViolette and received private lessons from Ernst Krenek.

The system similarly creates a hierarchy among intervals and finally, among larger collections of notes, 'chords.'

[4] After retiring from Queens College in 1985, he became a professor emeritus at the Aaron Copland School of Music.

[citation needed] In the run-up to his 100th birthday celebrations the composer-pianist Michael Brown released a well received CD of a sampling of Perle's work for piano.

[7] Perle was married to the sculptor Laura Slobe from 1940 to 1952; the couple were members of the Socialist Workers Party.