Born in 1900, Copland began composing at fifteen and continued writing until
1970, at which time his musical compositions included works for ballet,
orchestra, movies, and the stage. Some of Copland’s most popular and well-known
works include “Billy the Kid” (1938) and “Rodeo” (1942) as well as scores for
the movies Of Mice and Men (1942) and
The Heiress (1948).
Sites about Aaron Copland:
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A comprehensive page with links to reviews of Copland's music and books as well
as articles by and about Copland.
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An excellent critical piece on Copland with links to downloadable tracks from
some of Copland's pieces.
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A biography of Copland with links to other resources.
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A Copland biography provided by Spectrum Home and School Magazine and
hosted by Incwell Digital Media group. This is geared toward young readers, but
a list of links at the bottom of the page offers resources about Copland that
might be helpful to those interested in further research.
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A twenty-minute excerpt of Copland's Appalachian Spring.
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Strictly a commercial site, but there are some great photos of Copland (and his
house, of course).
"How We Listen" is an excerpt from
What to Listen for in Music, which is often described as a kind of music appreciation book for a general audience. Why do you think Copland's writing might be appealing to a reader with limited musical expertise? How might Copland's classifications encourage a different and perhaps broader appreciation in music listeners?
Go to the Norton classical composers page at
http://www.wwnorton.com/classical/composers/ and listen to J.S. Bach's
Musical Offerings. Analyze these pieces using Copland's classifications. What
themes do you hear? If you're not a Bach expert (and even if you are), do
Copland's classifications help you to appreciate this music?
Listen to the excerpts of "Fanfare for the Common Man"
and "Hoe Down" from Rodeo (1942) at
http://www.wwnorton.com/classical/composers/copland.htm. These pieces are
noted for their appeal to a wide range of audiences, something Norton refers to
as a "populist element" in Copland's music. Compare Copland's style of composing
music with his style of composing writing, and describe the qualities of both
you think might speak to the "populist" element.
Rent a videotape of Of Mice and Men or Our Town and listen for
Copland's compositions. Then read through some of the biographies listed in the
sites above. Based upon what you know about Copland's feelings about a kind of
"American" music, describe the ways in which you think Copland's music
complements and perhaps enhances these quintessentially "American" works.