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Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

First broadcast from 20060102 to 20081024.

Donald Macleod explores Copland's life and music through the prism of five key relationships.

Composer Of The Week

10 episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Description
01	20081020	The programme considers the composer's long and fruitful friendship with his composition teacher, the formidable Nadia Boulanger, who coaxed him to write an organ symphony and also put him in touch with the Russian-born conductor Serge Koussevitsky. Grohg - ballet in one act Cleveland Orchestra Oliver Knussen (conductor) Argo 443 203-2 - Trs 1-6 Symphony for Orchestra and Organ Dallas Symphony Orchestra Andrew Litton (conductor) Delos DE 3221 - Trs 13-15
01	20060102	Donald Macleod introduces works from Copland's student days in Paris under the guiding hand of Nadia Boulanger, and from his early years back home in the troubled period surrounding the Depression. Music for the Theatre The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Hugh Wolff (conductor) Help us, O Lord - from Four Motets Dunedin Consort Ben Parry (director) Piano Variations Joanna MacGregor (piano) Short Symphony Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin (conductor).
02	20060103	Copland recognised the value of incorporating folk music into his work as a way of attracting a wider audience. Donald Macleod introduces some of Copland's most popular folk-inspired works, plus incidental music written for a theatre group who shared his politically driven ideals. El Salon Mexico New Philharmonia Orchestra Aaron Copland (conductor) Billy the Kid Suite New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Lark Robert Hale (baritone) New England Conservatory Chorus Aaron Copland (conductor) Quiet City Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
02	20081021	Donald Macleod explores the role played in Copland's life by the Russian-born conductor Serge Koussevitzky, a musical entrepreneur of great charm, energy and dedication. He provided Copland with his first big break, and continued to commission major works from him thereafter. Display of Action (Appalachian Spring suite) Boston Symphony Orchestra Serge Koussevitzky (conductor) Biddulph WHL 050 - Tr 2 Concerto for piano and orchestra Aaron Copland (piano) New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Sony SM2K 47232 CD 2 - Trs 1-2 Two Pieces for String Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra Aaron Copland (conductor) Sony SM2K 47232 CD 1 Trs 4-5 Symphonic Ode San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor) RCA 09026 68541 2 - Tr 7 Aaron Copland (1900-1990) 2/5. Donald Macleod explores the role played in Copland's life by the Russian-born conductor Serge Koussevitzky, a musical entrepreneur of great charm, energy and dedication. He provided Copland with his first big break, and continued to commission major works from him thereafter.
03	20060104	With its infectious rhythms, many avant-garde choreographers of the time were drawn to Copland's music. Donald Macleod introduces a ballet written for Martha Graham which was an instant success with the public and critics alike; plus the famous fanfare which found its way into Copland's third symphony and a concerto commissioned by one of the leading bandleaders of the day - Benny Goodman. Fanfare for the Common Man New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Appalachian Spring St Luke's Chamber Ensemble Violin Sonata (3rd movement) Gil Shaham (violin) Andre Previn (piano) Clarinet Concerto Benny Goodman (clarinet) Columbia Symphony Strings Aaron Copland (conductor).
03	20081022	Donald Macleod explores Copland's friendship with Mexican composer Carlos Chavez - an extraordinary meeting of minds and interests that endured for more than 50 years. They hit it off immediately after their first meeting, and Copland's first visit to Mexico transformed his music, feeding into a number of his works, including the successful El Salon Mexico. Street in a Frontier Town (Billy the Kid) (excerpt) London Symphony Orchestra Aaron Copland (conductor) Sony SM3K 46559 CD 1 - Tr 4 Music for the Theatre (suite in five parts) The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Hugh Wolff (conductor) Teldec 2292-46314-2 - Trs 1-5 Subjective (Statements for orchestra) Sony SM2K 47232 CD 2 - Trs 5-10 Short Symphony (Symphony No 2) San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor) RCA 09026 68541 2 - Trs 4-6 El Salon Mexico Dallas Symphony Orchestra Eduardo Mata (conductor) RCA 09026 63467 2 - Tr 14
04	20060105	As a communist sympathiser, Copland was caught up in Senator McCarthy's witch-hunt of the 1950s and summoned to testify before the infamous House Committee on Un-American Activities. Donald Macleod introduces works from those difficult years including his first serial work, highlights from his only opera and song-settings of poems by one of America's greatest 19th-century poets. Simple Gifts William Warfield (baritone) Columbia Symphony Orchestra Aaron Copland (conductor) 12 Poems of Emily Dickinson (selection) Barbara Bonney (soprano) Andre Previn (piano) Piano Quartet Martin Roscoe (piano) Members of the Vanbrugh Quartet The Tenderland - (extract) Laurie....Joy Clements Martin....Richard Cassilly Top....Richard Fredericks Grandpa Moss....Norman Treigle Ma Moss....Claramae Turner New York Philharmonic Aaron Copland (conductor).
04	20081023	Donald Macleod considers Copland's relationship with Hollywood, where he contributed a number of significant film scores. The composer got his foot in the door there in the late 1930s, with his music for a small documentary called The City, which brought him an invitation to score the film version of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Its two Academy Award nominations led to another movie commission, which Copland turned down, although he eventually composed four more scores. Barley Wagons (incidental music for the film Of Mice and Men) Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin (conductor) BMG 09026 61699 2 - Tr 11 The Red Pony Suite New Philharmonia Orchestra Aaron Copland (conductor) CBS MK 42429 - Trs 2-7 Music for a Great City (film score for Something Wild - 1961) Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin (conductor) RCA RD60149 - Trs 5-8
05	20081024	Donald Macleod explores Copland's relationship with the irrepressible Leonard Bernstein, an acolyte who became a fast friend and ultimately a vital musical conduit. Bernstein was a great admirer of Copland's fiercely aggressive Piano Variations and gave a memorable performance of the work at a party after the two first met. Like a giant bomb (The Second Hurricane - Act 1) Chorus of the High School of Music and Art, New York City New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Sony SMK 60560 - Tr 7 Piano Sonata Leonard Bernstein (piano) BMG GD 60915 - Trs 8-10 Danzon Cubano, version for 2 pianos William Chapman Nyaho, Susanna Garcia (pianos) Centaur CRC 2405 - Tr 7 Connotations New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Deutsche Gramophon 431 672-2 - Tr 9
05 LAST	20060106	Copland was feted wherever he went as composer, conductor and ambassador for American music. Donald Macleod introduces some of Copland's final works, including one of his most widely played chamber works and an orchestral piece commissioned by his friend and greatest supporter, Leonard Bernstein. Midsummer Nocturne Leo Smit (piano) Nonet Members of the St Luke's Chamber Orchestra Inscape New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein (conductor) Duo for flute and piano Jennifer Stinton (flute) Malcolm Martineau (piano) 3 Latin-American Sketches (No 1) New York Philharmonic Orchestra Aaron Copland (conductor).