Kelby Wegwitz Sam Jewkes 12/08/2012 Final Presentation

Born November 14, 1900 Died December 2,

Harris and Sarah Copland 5 Children Aaron was Youngest Lived in Brooklyn Russian- Jewish Immigrant family

Rubin Goldmark, Ludwig Wolfsohn,

American Conservatory in France Nadia Boulanger World Renowned Pianist

Serge Koussevitsky

Copland’s Compositions and life Achievements

From 1920 ‘s to 1970’s  Composed more than 100 pieces  Started teaching Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood  Taught at Harvard  Wrote Fanfare for the Common Man, Billy the Kid, and Appalachian Trail his most Famous works.

December 2, 1990

Copland 1944 A Brief History

Appalachian Spring Commisioned Ballet-1943 E. Sprague Coolidge Foundation Performed and Choreographed by Martha Grahm. Debuted October 30,

The Dance Hart Cane O Appalachian Spring! I gained the ledge; Steep, inaccessible smile that eastward bends And northward reaches in that violet wedge Of Adirondacks.

Main Characters Bride, Groom, Radical Preacher, Congregation, Neighbor

 1. VERY SLOWLY. Introduction of the characters, one by one, in a suffused light.  2. FAST. Sudden burst of unison strings in A major arpeggios stars the action. A sentiment both elated and religious gives the keynote to this scene.  3. MODERATE. Duo for the Bride and her Intended--scene of tenderness and passion.  4. QUITE FAST. The Revivalist and his flock. Folksy feelings--suggestions of square dances and country fiddlers.  5. STILL FASTER. Solo dance of the Bride--presentiment of motherhood. Extremes of joy and fear and wonder.  6. VERY SLOWLY (as at first). Transition scenes reminiscent of the introduction.  7. CALM AND FLOWING. Scenes of daily activity for the Bride and her farmer-husband. There are five variations on a Shaker theme... sung by a solo clarinet...  8. MODERATE. CODA. The Bride takes her place among her neighbors. At the end the couple are left "quiet and strong in their new house." Muted strings intone a hushed, prayer like passage. The close is reminiscent of the opening music.

 (click here to Play Piece) (click here to Play Piece)  0:00 Introduction of all characters Slow Starts with french horn and is joined by the cello and woodwinds.  1:18 French horns carry the Melody with flutes joining in a polyphonic sound  2:15 2 nd Movement-Tempo is doubled and violins start the movement.  2:19 Drums enter the piece for the first time.  2:22 Bassoon and Clarinet echo each other in imitation.  2:58 Low Brass come in and have the piece carry a feeling of busy industry.  3:29 Music Starts to dissolve and flutes carry the melody at 3:53  4:08 Music Turns to a Minor Key  4:27 Minor dissolves and leaves Percussion playing at half tempo  5:07 3 rd Movement Starts with the brass section.  5:56 Violins carry melody. Tempos is soft and slow like a romantic moment is shared between the Bride and Groom

 7:15 Cornet is heard and orchestra mimics in turn.  8:05 4 th Movement- Quite Fast with the trumpet leading the piece.  8:57 Duple Meter with the Snare Drum keeping Cadence  10:00 Feeling of celebration continues and a crescendo builds.  10:30 Piece falls to “off Cadence” beat. Copland’s Jazz influences can be seen in this movement.  10:44 Horns reach Crescendo and tempos is half.  11:00 11:40 Diminuendo and is treated as transition music between movements.  11:41 5 th Movement- Very short notes with exact lengths very ridged movements. Use of mimicry again  12:13 Fanfare by Trumpets  12:35 Building Crescendo  12:42- 12:53 Drums complete Crescendo  14:21 Dramatic slow down and transition.

 14:42 6 th Movement Starts slow like beginning with the violins.  15:33 Polyphonic with the strings carrying the melody  16:16 Violins flare to make it feel like wind moving.  16:45 1 st Variation of “Shaker Hymn" by Joseph Bracket. Lone clarinet holds melody with woodwinds support (mainly the flutes)  17:13 2 nd Variation Bassoon starts melody in a different key again with flutes and now clarinets in the back ground. Horns come in half way through just as flute did for clarinet in the first movement.  17:41 3 rd Variation Cello picks up Shaker Hymn with a half tempo variation and is joined by every section in the orchestra at 8:13  18:30 4 th Variation by the trumpet and brass  18:57 5 th and final Variation on Shaker Hymn Played and carried by a mostly unison orchestra with a crescendo.

Appalchian Spring Composed by Aaron Copland.