Copland - Appalachian Spring

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:15am

Just loaded 30 pieces of music by Aaron Copland to my iTunes Library. That was $11.99 well spent!

I was searching for the music composed for the film 'The Heiress' which I've not yet found. Why no DVD of this film? Any how we did Martha Graham's "Appalachian Spring" a few years ago. How glorious is that music? It's really heaven.

Updated On: 4/16/06 at 11:15 AM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:28am

I sang the soprano line in The Promise of Living (The Tender Land) as part of a quintet in a concert. Glorious.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:30am

Amen! One of my favorites! And it's finally getting to the point where I can play "Hoedown" from Rodeo for my kids and not have them yell, "that's the beef song!".

I actually use "Hoedown" to introduce ballet to my 5th graders. There was a segment of the ballet on "An Evening at Pops" years ago by the Boston Ballet. The men are not in tights and the dancing isn't too "balletic", so the kids seem to be more accepting of it.....I look at is as a type of gateway into things like "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker" (which they go to in 5th grade). Of course, then a few weeks later, I actually make them dance.....mean teacher that I am!

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:36am

Excellent singingwendy!
RODEO is a great ballet for all ages.
xo-Rath!
Someone was very wise in choosing Copeland for 'The Heiress'.
The last minutes of Appalachian are simply divine.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 12:17pm

Glebb--I too am eagerly awaiting The Heiress on DVD! Copland's Oscar-winning score.

As far as Appalachian Spring---One of my favorite pieces of music EVER. You should check out the "original" version of it, with a small ensemble recording. It's not usually done this way anymore, but originally was performed with only about a dozen musicians. This arrangement is very different from the full, orchestral version that most of us know... and it's also got some extended music sequences in it. It's much "darker" in tone, but equally as brilliant.

My favorite Copland film score is "Our Town." You can get a suite from it on CD, but sadly not the full film score. Hopefully that will be remedied in the coming years. That music is so emotional.

(Well, so is just about everything he ever wrote!)

[DG]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 12:19pm

RODEO makes my heart sing. It's the soundtrack that plays in my head as I drive around the west.

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 12:32pm

Thanks for the tip best21bars.
DG, HELP!
I just purchased Chopin's Les Sylphides and music by Milhaud.
I need to be stopped!

[mominator]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 12:39pm

Another fan here, just adore Appalachian Spring... sigh!

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 12:43pm

Just purchased Ravel's Le Tombeau Du Couperin, yikes!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 1:38pm

Tombeau is very much a favorite of mine, too.

The following recording of Ravel works includes Five O'clock Fox Trot from his second and last opera, the jazz and musical inspired L'enfant et les sortileges.
This recording also contains another Ravel piece that I particularly like, Pavane pour une infante défunte.

Geoffrey Simon and The Philharmonia, CALA label, CD 2-volume set.

Copland is another huge favorite in our house. Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony have a terrific recording of Appalachian Spring, it's the complete version. The recording also several other Copland pieces, including the Cortege macabre from Grogh. Grogh is a one-act ballet originally written in 1922-25, and revised in 1932. The full recording of Grogh is on a recording by The Cleveland Orchestra, Oliver Knussen conducting. It's on the Argo label #443-203-2. Well worth seeking.

Copland film works can be found on another very good recording by Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony, "Copland Music for Films." In addition the "The Heiress Suite" it contains "The Red Pony," "Our Town, and "Music for Movies." The latter is Copland's 1943 arrangement of five film score extracts from his first three films (The City, Of Mice and Men, Our Town).
Another favorite recording around here.

Now, we didn't mention Billy the Kid...

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 1:40pm

Thanks Jose'!
I've got some searching to do.
Rodeo, Billy and Pavane are in our rep along with Appalachian.
Pretty lucky here.
Now I'm looking for full length 'La Sylphide'.

[The Grovers Corners Yenta2]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:51pm

Appalachian Spring is one of my favorite pieces by Copeland.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 3:07pm

Glebb--Did you try Musical Heritage? Yes, I know it's a "club", but that was the only place I've ever seen an entire recording of The Nutcracker...and not just "The Nutcracker Suite".

Oh...and great additional choices!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 3:27pm

I love the way Copeland weaves the traditional Shaker Hymn into "APpalacian Spring", however, my favorite music of Copeland's is the background music for OUR TOWN. It's gorgeous and sentimental. I absolutely love it.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:53pm

I loved the way Star of Indiana used "Simple Gifts" when I saw them perform in Branson, before they made their way to Broadway in BLAST. It was beautifully staged. I went back to see the show again to see that number in particular.

[kjklo]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 10:38pm

I adore Martha Lipton's recording of "Twelve Poems By Emily Dickinson."

Coplands's Music For Theater (1925) is also very stirring. Look for the Leonard Bernstein/NY Philharmonic recording.

I totally agree with Jose about the Leonard Slatkin/St Louis Symphony CD of his music for films. It's a must.

But lose the "e." There's no "e" in Copland!

[dreaminaret]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 10:39pm

I absolutely love Appalachian Spring... it has this like "Open Expanse of America" feel which is nice when you're holed up in a tiny room in NY. The "Simple Gifts" part is beautiful as is the opening movement... it just has such a rich sound and makes me very happy.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:21pm

kjklo, thanks for reminding me of Music for Theater. I agree with you it is stirring, and another must have for Copland fans.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 10:54am

Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free...

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:36am

:)

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:39am

I also love Copland's song set of "Old American Songs". It includes Simple Gifts, but also "I Bought Me a Cat". There is nothing as hysterical as watching classically trained singers in recital sing arias and art songs, and then sing "I Bought Me a Cat" and start making animal noises! I was lucky enough to see Sam Ramey do this in concert..it was a hoot!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:41am

I've played a lot of Copland's music -- some very famous and some not so. It's so beautiful, and even moreso to be sitting where you're not only creating it, but surrounded by it. :)

[kjklo]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 12:02pm

Michae Tilson Thomas is another conductor who has a very special feel for Copland's music.

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 9:20am

I feel goose bumps when I listen.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:29pm

My current music selection at work is a compilation from several orchestras called "Copland: Greatest Hits," and it is thanks to this thread.