Aaron Copland Music

Copland House Looks at the Life of Leonard Bernstein, 9/17 & 18

Think Small on Sunday afternoon, September 18 at 3pm ventures into the world of the microscopic, the minuscule, and the ethereal, with an intriguing program of tiny works pioneered by German masters Alban Berg and Anton Webern, carried forth by Aaron Copland , Sebastian Currier, and Haskel Small (how could he be omitted from such a concert?), and further refined by rising stars Carl Schimmel and Stacy Garrop. Despite their extreme brevity-some works last as little as 15 or 20 seconds, while others are as "long" as 4 whole minutes!-there is surprising variety in these petite, exquisite, and sometimes astonishingly intense compositions. Sponsored, in part, by the Westchester Community Foundation (Rudyard and Emanuella Remiss Fund). Copland House, an award-winning creative center for American music based at Aaron Copland 's National Historic Landmark home in New York's lower Hudson River Valley, is the only composer's home in the U.S. devoted to nurturing and renewing America's rich musical heritage, and fostering greater public awareness and appreciation of our nation's composers and their work. Building upon Aaron Copland 's seminal artistic and personal legacies, it furthers this mission through composer residencies; live, broadcast, and recorded performances; and educational and community outreach programs. In 2009, it began expanding its activities to the vast Merestead estate in Mount Kisco through a public-private partnership with the Westchester County government. Support for Copland House's 2011-12 Merestead concerts comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, ArtsWestchester, the Westchester Community Foundation, and the Friends of Copland House. Tickets to most Copland House at Merestead performances are popularly-priced at $25 and $20 (for Friends of Copland House), and less in various subscription packages; student tickets are $10. Tickets for Late Night with Leonard Bernstein (September 17) are $100 (VIP seating and parking) and $50. For ticket and subscription information, contact Copland House at (914) 788-4659 or office@coplandhouse.org.

Western Classics « Film Music: The Neglected Art

. All of this got the attention of the American classical composers and some wonderful music was created. In particular Aaron Copland created his “Americana Sound” with his wonderful works Rodeo and Billy the Kid which further influenced composers such as Tiomkin, Bernstein, Williams, Goldsmith, and Moross with his music that created their own sound for the silver screen.

 

Delos, as part of a series which also includes Mystery classics (DE 1601) and Romance classics (DE 1602), has put together 60+ minutes of western material from Copland, Grofe, Hanson, and Hovhaness. Each piece carefully selected is a representation of the western way of life. The first cue is “Hoe Down” from the ballet Rodeo and if the theme sounds familiar it should. The beef council has been using it for years as their theme song. This very lively dance begins at a frantic pace and after a brief rest with the piano getting the spotlight in a gallop rhythm the main theme is presented. A second theme is presented and the orchestra slows to a crawl before the main theme is once again presented. Listen carefully to how well Copland makes use of his percussion, very important to this track. The second cue is one of the most popular melodies of all time “On The Trail” from Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite . It begins with a statement from a solo violin offering the main melody without orchestra. What follows is a second melody, a swaggering tune of a burro slowly making his way on the trail and then Grofe uses counterpoint playing both themes. He returns to the main theme this time in majestic fashion. Imagine the beauty and splendor. The all too brief movement ends in a frantic fashion. If you picture yourself around a campfire with guitars playing a dreamy romantic piece you’ve got Copland’s “Corral Nocturne” from Rodeo . In An Outdoor Overture , also Copland rhythm plays a major part in this work with his usual element of surprise, bright trumpets, booming timpani, and quiet melody from the flute and clarinet. Not ever stopping to think that part of a Hanson Symphony No. 3 could have anything to do with the west proved me wrong. The melody is gorgeous in the second movement an andante very uplifting. Picture the plains after a hard rain with the sun coming out and you have this mostly serene piece.

The Piano Music of Aaron Copland: The Piano Music of Aaron CoplandRating: Sale Price: $3.95 The Piano Music ...

RT @: "To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable." -Aaron Copland

Aaron Copland: The Life and Work of an Uncommon Man (Music in American Life):

Aaron Copland and George Gershwin developed a new synthesis of popular and classical music

"To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself...inconceivable." -- Aaron Copland

Music and imagination

Describes the all important role of the imagination in the composition, performance, appreciation and intelligent comprehension of music and surveys its ...

Music for the Common Man, Aaron Copland During the Depression and War

Music for the Common Man: Aaron Copland during the Depression and War is the first sustained attempt to understand some of Copland's best known music in the ...

Aaron Copland, the life and work of an uncommon man

Howard Pollack's expansive and detailed biography examines Copland's musical development, his political sympathies, his personal life, and his tireless ...

What to Listen for in Music

Featuring an introduction by William Schuman, as well as a foreword and epilogue by Alan Rich, an indispensable guide from one of America's foremost composers ...

Theoretical issues and presumptions in the early music of Aaron Copland

To date, no one has provided an effective and reproducible system for analyzing the music of Aaron Copland.