aaron copland

Aaron Copland:

Aaron Copland “dean of American composers” 1900-1990

His Life:

His Life Born November 14, 1900 Died December 2, 1990 Grew up in Brooklyn Not a particularly active boy when he was young; he was sensitive and liked to read It was his mother and sister who got him in music Studied formal composition with Rubin Goldmark, but he found him not accepting of contemporary composers and new ways to write music Decided to study in France with famed teacher Nadia Boulanger, who was much more suited to his taste and style

Most Famous Works:

Most Famous Works Rodeo (1942) Fanfare for the Common Man (1942) Appalachian Spring (1944) What to Listen for in Music (famous book still used today)

Rodeo:

Rodeo “Beef—It’s what’s for dinner.” Remember those commercials? Composed as a ballet in four dances Work captures the spirit of rural America with its quick tempos and syncopated rhythms Usually described with words like “bold” or “brash” Does this piece sound “American” to you?

Fanfare for the Common Man:

Fanfare for the Common Man Written in 1942 to be commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra It is a short piece that was written to begin a concert, but Copland liked it so much that he later put it in his Symphony #3 Now a patriotic standard You’ve probably heard it in a few movies!

Appalachian Spring:

Appalachian Spring Written in 1944 as a ballet, won a Pulitzer prize It was composed for famous American modern dancer and choreographer Martha Graham The music paints a picture of the story: a young, newly married pioneer couple moving into their new house in rural Pennsylvania Copland was inspired by the simplicity of an American Shaker folk song called “Simple Gifts,” which he uses in the latter part of the work He uses the melody line and then repeats it over and over with new elements added to it: theme and variation

Copland vs. Gershwin :

Copland vs. Gershwin George Gershwin Aaron Copland Born 1898 Grew up in Brooklyn Jewish background Family name changed to be more “Americanized” Came from a non-musical family Studied composition on his own Won a Pulitzer prize Died young at 37 of a brain tumor Never married Born 1900 Grew up in Brooklyn Jewish background Family name changed to be more “Americanized” Came from a musical family Studied composition in France Won a Pulitzer prize Died old at 90 of Alzheimer’s Disease Never married

Impact of His Music:

Impact of His Music At a time when American choreographers didn’t have ballet music to call their own, Copland provided them with new American ballets, much like Gershwin delivered Rhapsody in Blue to American orchestras and Porgy and Bess to African-American performers. Both Gershwin and Copland established that America could create composers that were competitive, competent, talented, and as regarded as their European forefathers. Copland really found a balance and a creative way to link classical music with folk music.

Bernstein and copland:

Bernstein and copland Leonard Bernstein was Copland’s friend and protégé and was considered the best conductor of his works.

“To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.” :

“To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.” --Aaron Copland 1900-1990