The American Depression
Donald Macleod explores Copland's return to New York in the 1930s, where he made his name, and established his own individual style as America struggled through the depression.
Aaron Copland is the composer who, more than any other, defined the sound of American classical music. Copland's life spanned every decade of the 20th Century, and this week Donald Macleod explores the composer's life and music against the background of the events of that Century. In this episode, Copland returns to his home town of New York, where he made his name during the early 1930s. It was there he established his own individual style and a truly American sound in music, as the US struggled through the depression.
Music for Theater: Dance
Orchestra of St Lukes
Dennis Russell Davies (conductor)
Piano Variations
Emanuel Ax (piano)
El Salon Mexico
BBC Philharmonic
John Wilson (conductor)
Billy the Kid
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein (conductor)
John Henry
London Symphony Orchestra
Aaron Copland (conductor)
Producer: Sam Phillips.
Last on
Music Played
![]()
Aaron Copland
Music For The Theatre: Dance
Performer: Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies.- NIMBUS NI2522.
- NIMBUS.
- 1.
![]()
Aaron Copland
Piano Variations
Performer: Emanuel Ax.- SONY : 88765420862.
- SONY.
- 5.
![]()
Aaron Copland
El Salon Mexico
Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.- Chandos CHSA5164.
- Chandos.
- 1.
![]()
Aaron Copland
Billy The Kid
Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.- SONY : SMK-63082.
- SONY.
- 1.
![]()
Aaron Copland
John Henry
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Aaron Copland.- SONY SM3K46559.
- SONY.
- 1.
Broadcast
- Tue 1 May 201812:00BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
