An American Sound
Donald Macleod follows Copland’s quest for a music that speaks of America
Donald Macleod explores Copland’s determination to create a sound that was unmistakably American. From the stark brilliance of the Piano Variations to the exuberance of El Salón México and his cowboy ballets including Billy the Kid, we hear how Copland blended jazz and folk tunes with a modern twist to capture the spirit of a nation.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! – ballet in one act: Scene i (Prelude)
London Sinfonietta
Oliver Knussen, conductor
Piano Variations
Leo Smit, piano
Short Symphony (Symphony No. 2):
i. Incisivo
ii. Espressivo
iii. Presto e ritmico
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
El Salón México
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein, conductor
Billy the Kid Suite:
i. Introduction: The Open Prairie
ii. Street in a Frontier Town
iii. Mexican Dance and Finale
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein, conductor
Last on
Music Played
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Aaron Copland
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! (Prelude)
Orchestra: London Sinfonietta. Conductor: Oliver Knussen.- ARGO : 443-203-2.
- ARGO.
- 8.
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Aaron Copland
Piano Variations
Performer: Leo Smit.- SONY : G010001222604W.
- SONY.
- 2.
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Aaron Copland
Short Symphony
Orchestra: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.- RCA : 09026-6829-2.
- RCA.
- 7.
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Aaron Copland
El Salon Mexico
Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.- SONY : G010001222726C.
- SONY.
- 5.
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Aaron Copland
Billy The Kid Suite (excerpt)
Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.- SONY CLASSICAL : G010000970723J.
- SONY CLASSICAL.
- 12.
Broadcast
- Wednesday16:00BBC Radio 3
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The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
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