Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

This week, Donald Macleod explores Aaron Copland’s most productive decade, and features some of his best loved works in full. During this time Copland hit his prime. He became recognised as America’s leading composer, winning the Pulitzer Prize in Music and an Academy Award for his work in Hollywood.

He toured Europe and South America, absorbing diverse influences from each, and composed key works including his Symphony No.3, Appalachian Spring, Lincoln Portrait, Fanfare for the Common Man and Rodeo.

We get a sense of how Copland’s personal and professional interests developed over the 1940s and learn about his friendships and challenges during and in the aftermath of World War II.

Music Featured:

John Henry: A Railroad Ballet for Orchestra Quiet City Piano Sonata Our Town Music for Movies Lincoln Portrait Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes Danzón Cubano - (version for 2 pianos) Las Agachadas (The Shake-Down Song) Sonata for violin and piano Fanfare for the Common Man Appalachian Spring Suite (version for 13 instruments) Letter From Home The Red Pony Suite Third Symphony (2nd & 3rd mvt) The Heiress Suite Preamble for a Solemn Occasion Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson (Nos 4, 5 & 12) An Outdoor Overture (version for wind ensemble) Four Piano Blues Clarinet Concerto

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Iain Chambers

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Aaron Copland (1900-1990) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000vplc

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z