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A Tribute to Aaron Copland
Dean of American Composers
Born: Brooklyn, New York,
November 14, 1900Died: North Tarrytown, New York,
December 2, 1990
Aaron Copland was one of the best known
and most respected composers of the 20th century.
He has been called the "Dean of American Composers"
due to his many compositions,
writings, and conducting skills. Also his years of teaching other composers,including famous ones like his friend, Leonard Bernstein.
Among his most popular works are:
"El Salon Mexico" (1936)
"Billy the Kid" (ballet, 1938)
"Our Town" (film score, 1940)
"Lincoln Portrait" (with narrator, 1942)
"Rodeo" (ballet, 1942)
"Appalachian Spring" (ballet, 1944)
"The Red Pony" (film score, 1949)
"Old American Songs (2 sets, 1950-1952)
What were his views about his own music?
What did he think of other composers and their music?
To discuss these and other questions, composer and musicologist, Roger Hall,
had a lengthy conversation with Copland on July 21, 1980 at his home.
During the wide-ranging conversation Copland discussed some of his
compositions: such as "Appalachian Spring."Also his arrangements of "Old American Songs,"
and several of his film scores, OUR TOWN and THE HEIRESS,
his admiration for Nadia Boulanger,Serge Koussevitzky (who made the first recording
of the "Appalachian Spring Suite"),
his close friend, Leonard Bernstein,
and his admiration of the composer, Charles Ives.Copland also made fun of his bad memory and was delightfully candid.
This recorded conversation with Copland is onA Conversation with Aaron Copland (AMRC 0005)
Highlights from the Copland interview
about his arrangements of Shaker dance song, "Simple Gifts"
are included on this CD:
Gentle Words - A Shaker Music Sampler (AMRC 0016)
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One of his best known compositions, "Appalachian Spring"
was discussed in BBC Magazine (November 2016).
But the information about "Simple Gifts" is not accurate.
This Shaker tune was composed as a dance song NOT a hymn.When writing about his choice of the Shaker dancing song, "Simple Gifts,"
Copland wrote the following:I read that the dance would have been in a "lively tempo, with single files of brethren and sisters two or three abreast proceeding with utmost precision around the meeting room. In the center of the room would be a small group singing the dance song over and over until everyone was both exhihilerate and exhausted." Lest this seem very scholarly, my research evidently was not very thorough, since I did not realize that there never have been Shaker settlements in rural Pennsyvlania!
--Copland Since 1943 by Aaron Copland and Vivian Perlis, page 33
(this information quoted from ,"The Story of Simple Gifts," by Roger L. Hall, 1987)Read the article about Copland and his arrangements of the Shaker song -- click here
A Few Recommended CDs and a DVD
The Music of America: Aaron Copland
A 3 CD set of his best known music,
including Fanfare for the Common Man,
Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Rodeo,
Lincoln Portrait, Music for Movies and more
COPLAND CONDUCTS COPLAND CD,
with Copland conducting
the complete original ballet version
of Appalachian Spring in 1973,
also Henry Fonda as narrator for Lincoln Portrait
A Biddulph CD with Serge Koussevitzky conducting
the Boston Symphony Orchestra
in the rare first recording of the Suite from Appalachian Spring in 1945,
and also other works
The Copland Collection, 1936-1948
(includes OUR TOWN and MUSIC FOR MOVIES)
Aaron Copland -
Music in the '20s (3 DVD set)
Complete 12 part series as shown on Public Television
Copland and Film music
There was an interview by Roger Hall with Aaron Copland first published in
Soundtrack magazine, Vol. 19, No. 75. You can read this interview -- go here
The interview was conducted at the composer's home in 1980 and
has been now reprinted in this book
now available exclusively in this PDF book:
CD Review: THE HEIRESS and THE RED PONY
Copland: Music for Films
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra,
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Copland and The ShakersAaron Copland's arrangement of the Shaker dance song,"Simple Gifts,"
has been known around the world chiefly through its use inthe Martha Graham ballet, Appalachian Spring.
When writing about this ballet score, Jan Swafford has written:
The most famous section is the variations on the Shaker song, "Simple Gifts," a tune Copland rescued from obscurity. His genius for evocation, his simplicity hiding great sophistication and his understated emotion are never better seen than here.
--The Vintage Guide to Classical Music (1992), p 471.Listen to the Roger Hall's interview with Copland
about his arrangements of "Simple Gifts"
in this collection
Aaron Copland met
several Shakers in Ohioin 1974.
It was their only meeting.
Watch the program
with Shaker music scholarand music preservationist,
Roger Lee Hal
available on YouTube
"Tis the gift to be simple" -
Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers in Shaker Heights
See the online poll of American classical composers -- click here
Please help support the educational mission of the
Center for American Music Preservation
Order your copy of this limited edition AMRC CD 0005
A Conversation with Aaron Copland
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