Aaron Copland Success and Critical Acclaim
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to the Pulitzer Prize-winning _Appalachian_ _Spring_ found both popular Aaron Copland success and critical acclaim. His decision to 'say it in the simplest possible terms' alienated some of his peers, who saw in it a repudiation of musical progress -- theirs and his own. But many who had been drawn to Copland's music through his use of familiar melodies were in turn perplexed by his use, beginning in the mid-1950's, of an individualized 12-tone compositional technique. His orchestral works _Connotations_ (1962) and _Inscape_ (1967) stand as perhaps the definitive statements of his mature, 'difficult' style. Copland never ceased to be an emissary and advocate of new music. In 1951, he became the first American composer to hold the position of Norton Aaron Copland photo © Roman Freulich Professor of Poetics at Harvard University; his lectures there were published as _Music and Imagination._ For 25 years he was a leading member of the An introduction to the music of Aaron Copland faculty at the Berkshire Music Center (Tanglewood). Throughout his career, he nurtured the careers of others, including Leonard Bernstein, Carlos Aaron Copland's name is, for many, synonymous with American music. It was Chavez, Toru Takemitsu, and David Del Tredici. He took up conducting while his pioneering achievement to break free from Europe and create a concert in his fifties, becoming a persuasive interpreter of his own music; he music that is recognizably, characteristically American. At the same time, he continued to conduct in concerts, on the radio, and on television until he was was able to stamp his music with a compositional personality so vivid as to 83. transcend stylistic boundaries, making every work -- from the easily-grasped to the demanding -- identifiable as his alone. Aaron Copland was one of the most honored cultural figures in the history of the United States. The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center From his early studies in piano he proceeded, at age 17, to study harmony, Award, the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 'Oscar', counterpoint, and sonata form with Rubin Goldmark, whose staunchly and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of conservative outlook inspired Copland to rebellious investigation of the music Germany were only a few of the honors and awards he received. In addition, of Debussy, Ravel, Mussorgsky, and Scriabin. In 1920, he set out for Paris, he was president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters; a fellow of the modernism's home in the years between the wars. Among the many vital Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Society of Arts in England; helped legacies of his stay in Paris were his association with his teacher and mentor found the American Composers Alliance; was an early and prominent Nadia Boulanger; a growing interest in popular idioms; and the insight that member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; there was as yet no American counterpart to the national styles being created served as director or board member of the American Music Center, the by composers from France, Russia, and Spain. He became determined to Koussevitzky Foundation, the League of Composers, and other organizations; create, in his words, 'a naturally American strain of so-called serious music.' received honorary doctorates from over 40 colleges and universities. In 1982, The Aaron Copland School of Music was established in his honor at Queens Upon his return to America in 1924, his career was launched when Serge College of the City University of New York. Koussevitzky, whom he had met in Paris, agreed to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Copland's _Organ Symphony,_ with Boulanger as soloist. When performed in New York under Walter Damrosch, the dissonant, angular work created a sensation. But Copland saw a broader role for himself than mere iconoclast. He sought to further the cause of new music as a vital cultural force. He accomplished this not only by composing, but also by lecturing and writing on new music, and by organizing the groundbreaking Copland-Sessions concerts in New York, which brought many works of the European avant-garde to U.S. audiences for the first time. As America entered first a Depression, and then a war, Copland began to share many of his fellow artists' commitment to capturing a wider audience and speaking to the concerns of the average citizen in those times of trouble. His intentions were fulfilled as works from _Billy the Kid_ to _Lincoln Portrait_ OPERAS 1 OPERAS 1 OPERAS The Second Hurricane 1936 53 min A play opera in two acts for school performance 2S,A,2T,Bar,B,3adult speakers; mixed chorus 1(=picc).1.2.asax(=tsax).1-0.2.1.0-timp.perc:susp.cym/cyms/SD/BD/ glsp/xyl/tgl/tam-t-pft-musical saw(or theremin)-strings 9790051951901 (Vocal Score) Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world 9790051951932 (Choral Score) World Premiere: 21 Apr 1937 At The Playhouse, 466 Grand Street, New York, New York, United States Orson Welles, director; Music School of the Henry Street Settlement Conductor: Lehman Engel The Tender Land 1952-54, rev.1955 1 hr 40 min Opera in three acts 2S,M,A,2T,2Bar,B,speaker; chorus 2(II=picc).1.corA.2(II=bcl).2-2.2.2.0-timp.perc(2):glsp/tgl/SD/wdbl/ xyl/susp.cym/ratchet/BD/slap stick/tabor/sandpaper-harp-pft(ad lib)- strings Chamber version by Murry Sidlin (1987): 1.0.1.1-0.0.0.0-pft-strings(4.0.2.2.1) 9790051951505 (Vocal Score) World Premiere: 01 Apr 1954 City Center, New York, NY, United States Jerome Robbins, director; New York City Opera Conductor: Thomas Schippers Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world OPERAS 2 OPERAS 2 BALLETS Rodeo 1942 24 min Appalachian Spring Ballet in one act Ballet in one act for 13 instruments (original version) 3(II,III=picc).2.corA.2.bcl.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc:glsp/xyl/cyms/tgl/ 1944 33 min wdbl/whip/BD/SD-harp-pft(=cel)-strings original version for ballet and chamber orchestra 9790051282722 Piano 1.0.1.1-0.0.0.0-pft-strings(2.2.2.2.1) Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world World Premiere: 30 Oct 1944 Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, Washington DC, United States Martha Graham, choreographer; Martha Graham Dance Company Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world Appalachian Spring Ballet in one act for full orchestra 1954 33 min version for ballet and symphony orchestra 2(II=picc).2.2.2-2.2.2.0-timp.perc(2):glsp/xyl/cyms/tgl/claves/wdbl/BD/SD/tab-harp-pft-st rings Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world Billy the Kid 1938 35 min Ballet in one act 2(II=picc).2.2.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(5):glsp/xyl/cyms/sleigh bells/tgl/guiro/wdbl/whip/BD/SD/tin whistle-harp-pft-strings 9790051271078 2 Pianos, 4 Hands 9790051280568 Piano 9790051090068 (Full score) Dance Panels 1959,rev.1962 26 min Ballet in Seven Sections 2(I=afl ad lib,II=picc).1.2.1-2.2.1.0-perc(2):glsp/xyl/cyms/tgl/ 4tpl.bl/wdbl/BD/SD-strings 9790051207657 Study Score - Hawkes Pocket Score 765 9790051093038 (Full score) 9790051283903 Piano BALLETS 3 BALLETS 3 FULL ORCHESTRA Billy the Kid Suite Appalachian Spring 1938 22 min Suite for full orchestra for orchestra 1945 25 min 2(II=picc).2.2.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(5):glsp/xyl/cyms/sleigh Orchestral Suite bells/tgl/guiro/wdbl/whip/BD/SD/tin whistle-harp-pft-strings 2(II=picc).2.2.2-2.2.2.0-timp.perc(2):glsp/xyl/cyms/tgl/claves/wdbl/BD/SD/tab-harp-pft-st 9790051200726 Study Score - Hawkes Pocket Score 72 rings <b>NOTE:</b> The <a Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world href="http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Aaron-Copland-Appalachian-Spring/55228">Ball et for Orchestra</a> is available separately, which includes all material original to the The City ballet in choreographic order. 1939 22 min 9790051092086 (Full score) Incidental music for the documentary film for small orchestra 9790051200825 Study Score - Hawkes Pocket Score 82 1(=picc).1(=corA).2.bcl(=asax).1-2.2.1.0-perc(1):BD/timp/bell/ 9790051105250 Violin, Piano susp.cym-pft-strings Appalachian Spring Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world Variations on a Shaker Melody Connotations for Orchestra 1960 4 min 1962 20 min for orchestra 2(II=picc).2.2.2-2.2.2.0-timp.perc:glsp/tgl-harp-pft-strings for orchestra 3(III=piccII).picc.2.corA.2.Ebcl.bcl.3(III=dbn)-6.4.4.1-timp.perc(5): 9790051725120 Orchestra (full score) glsp/vib/xyl/conga dr/timbales/cyms/metal sheet/tam-t/tgl/claves/tpl. 9790051725113 Orchestra (score & parts) bl/wdbl/BD/SD/TD-pft(=cel)-strings 9790051484492 SATB, Piano 9790051095148 (Full score) 9790051207510 Study Score - Hawkes Pocket Score 751 Billy the Kid Prairie Night and Celebration Dance Symphony 1938 5 min 1925 18 min for orchestra for orchestra full version: 3.2.2.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc:xyl/BD/SD-harp-pft-strings 2.picc.2.corA.2.Dcl.bcl.2.dbn-4.3.2crt.3.1-timp.perc:xyl/cyms/ reduced version: 1.1.2.1-1.2.2.0-timp.perc:xyl/BD/SD-pft-strings tam-t/tgl/wdbl/whip/BD/SD/tamb/rattle-2harps-cel-pft-strings 9790051506316 Orchestra (score & parts) 9790051206971 Study Score - Hawkes Pocket Score 697 Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world FULL ORCHESTRA 4 FULL ORCHESTRA 4 9790060016783 Study Score - Hawkes Pocket Score 839 Danzon Cubano 1942 6 min Jubilee Variation for orchestra 1945 2 min 2.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(5):xyl/cowbell/cyms/ claves/guiro/maracas/tpl.bl/wdbl/whip/BD/SD-pft-strings for orchestra 2.picc.2.corA.2.bcl.2.dbn-4.3.3.1-timp.perc:BD/cyms/xyl/SD/susp.cym/ 9790051095209 (Full score) tgl-pft-strings 9790051271054 2 Pianos, 4 Hands 9790051280766 Piano Availability: This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world Emblems Letter from Home 6 min Aaron Copland, arranged by D.