On the day after the premiere, Kindler sent Piston a note declaring that the symphony "is without even the shadow of a doubt one of the half dozen great works written during the last ten years.
On the basis of these New York performances, Piston won the Music Critics' Circle Award for the 1944–45 season.
[5] The Adagio features a long-breathed Italianate melody introduced in the clarinet that is spun out in a seemingly improvisatory way, but in fact cost Piston a great deal of effort.
Leonard Bernstein chose this Adagio to perform with the New York Philharmonic as a memorial tribute when Piston died.
[6] This openly romantic movement possesses the characteristic grace of Piston's second creative period, and spins out its theme in a manner reminiscent of a large, figured chorale prelude.