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Chapter 76
American Composers Return
from Europe: Copland and
Barber
The Life of Aaron Copland (1900–1990)
• 1900 - born in Brooklyn, NY• 1921-24 - Paris, studies with Nadia Boulanger• 1924 - settles in New York• 1928 - founds the Copland-Sessions Concerts of Contemporary Music• 1940-65 - teaches at Tanglewood• 1972 - final compositions• 1990 - dies in North Tarrytown, NY
Characteristics of Aaron Copland’s Music
• Following WWI, American musicians established a stronger contact with French musical culture.
• Aaron Copland was only one of the leading younger composers of the 1920’s who studied in France with Nadia Boulanger.
• Copland (like many of his American musicians) made his music express distinctively American themes and values, which he accomplished:– by a simple traditional style (Appalachian
Spring)– by the quotation of folk melodies (Ive’s
influence) [as seen in his ballet Appalachian Spring based on Shaker themes.]
Principal Compositions by Aaron Copland
• Orchestra: symphonies (3), character pieces include – El Salón Mexico– Lincoln Portrait (with narration)– Outdoor Overture
• Opera and ballets: ballets include – Appalachian Spring– Billy the Kid– Rodeo
• Chamber music: works include Violin Sonata and Nonet for strings
• Piano: works include – Piano Blues– Piano Fantasy– Sonata– Piano Variations
• Songs: Emily Dickinson songs, folk song arrangements
• Writings: include the book Music and Imagination
Aaron Copland, Piano Variations, 1930
Theme-and-variations form
Aaron Copland, Appalachian Spring, Suite 1945, Variations on a Shaker
Hymn
Theme-and-variations form
The Life of Samuel Barber (1910–1981)
• 1910 born in Philadelphia
• 1924 -32 studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, composition with Rosario Scalero
• 1939-42 teaches composition at Curtis
• 1962 wins Pulitzer Prize for Piano Concerto
• 1966 premiere of Antony and Cleopatra for the opening of the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center
• 1981 dies in New York
Samuel Barber’s Music
• Samuel Barber came to prominence by composing in a traditional romantic style– although he often tried his hand at other, more
contemporary trends in music.
• His Adagio for Strings is an example of his extension of the Wagnerian idiom – in its intense expressivity and enriched harmonic
language.
• His Hermit Songs (1953 – settings of Medieval Irish poetry) – depart from Romanticism of the earlier pieces– though they maintain the traditional values
associated with song composition.
Principal Compositions by Samuel Barber
• Orchestra: symphonies (2), character pieces, concertos
• Operas and ballets: include– Medea (ballet)– Vanessa (opera)– Antony and Cleopatra (opera)
• Chamber music: includes String Quartet, instrumental sonatas
• Piano: character pieces, Sonata (1949)
• Songs: about 40, including– Hermit Songs– Knoxville: Summer of 1915
Samuel Barber, Hermit Songs, 1953, “Sea-Snatch”
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