“Hoe down” From The Ballet Rodeo

By: Aaron Copland

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History

Aaron Copland wrote the ballet Rodeo.Copland was born in Brooklyn, New York.He studied piano and later studied

composition when he travelled to France.Rodeo was written in the Modern Period

(1900 –1990) The ballet was first performed at the

Boston Pops in 1943.Classified - Internal use

FACTS!

Aaron Copland was one of America’s most famous composers

The story is about a cowgirl who tries to impress the head wrangler on the ranch.

The woodblock makes a “clip-clop” sound of a horse running.

This is Aaron Copland ->

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Facts #2

This is programme music – music that tells a story.

There are four sections in the work Rodeo: Buckaroo Holiday Corral Nocturne

Saturday Night Waltz Hoe Down

Hoe Down is one section in this work.

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The InstrumentsThe instruments used in this movement

include instruments from the Percussion, String, Brass and Woodwind family.

Here is a piece of music from Hoe Down that is played by violins.

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The Story

The story is based on cowboy life in America.A tomboyish cowgirl, who is trying to attract

the attention of the head wrangler.She goes to the Saturday night dance.She is invited to dance by both the head

wrangler and the champion roper.She chooses the champion roper.The music in Hoe Down captures the drama

of this scene.Classified - Internal use

Structure

The form of this piece is A, B, Link, A.The piece starts with the Introduction. This

lasts for 38 bars.Section A (from bar 39 to 97.)Section B (from bar 98 to 141.)The Link (from bar 142 to158.)The piece then goes back to Section A. (from

bar 159 to 194.)

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Section A

Section A consists of two different sections:Bonyparte tune – section 1Bonyparte tune – section 2

Bonyparte tune – section 1: This has the same rhythm pattern as the opening bars of the tune.

Bonyparte tune – section 2: This is a completely different rhythm pattern.

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Section B

Section B also consists of two different sections:

McLeod’s Reel 1McLeod’s Reel 2

Section B begins with McLeod’s Reel 1. It then changes to McLeod’s Reel 2 and then back to McLeod’s Reel 1.

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Link

This is the section that sounds like the “clip-clop” of a horse.

The woodblock is used to make this sound.

The sound is made realistic by using pizzicato and staccato.

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Features

Polyphonic – different melodies are played all at the one time.

Ascending and descending scales. Syncopated notes : emphasis on the weak

beat Dynamics: quite (piano) at the beginning and

loud (forte) at the endTempo: allegro

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More feature

Decending notes Pizzicato and sicato from the wood block

create the sound of a horse Grace notes

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Listen

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http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=er8JloGJhAQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Der8JloGJhAQ&gl=GB

By:

Lauren Èirin Sarah

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