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Tag: Appalachian Spring

Copland Sorey Pulitzer Music Victory

It was on V-E Day, marking Allied victory in Europe on this date in 1945, that Aaron Copland became the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his ballet “Appalachian Spring.” It remains one of the most successful of Pulitzer Prize winners, very few of which have remained in the active repertoire.

This is a good opportunity for me to acknowledge the fact, only slightly belatedly, that this year’s honoree is Tyshawn Sorey, who was awarded the prize on Monday for “Adagio (For Wadada Leo Smith),” a 20-minute work for alto saxophone and orchestra. Sorey describes the piece, which was co-commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Lucerne Festival, as an “anti-concerto,” designed to “provide a respite from the chaos and intrusiveness on modern life.”

I was able to locate an audio file here:

https://soundcloud.com/tyshawn-sorey/adagio-for-wadada-leo-smith

In 2020, Sorey joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. Belated congratulations to him for this year’s Pulitzer recognition.

https://www.tyshawnsorey.com/

May 8, 2024
Pulitzer Music Prize Enduring Classics & 2024

On this date in 1945, Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” became the third recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music. The announcement came on V-E Day. Purely by chance, this American classic was honored as the Allies celebrated victory in Europe.

Few Pulitzer Prize winners have endured as repertory pieces. Probably a handful at best. How many are actually known to the average concertgoer? Sure, the operas of Gian Carlo Menotti and Robert Ward get revived from time to time, and Jennifer Higdon has been exceptionally fortunate for a composer in her prime. But most Pulitzer winners tend to languish in relative obscurity.

The 21st century has been a little kinder, with at least ten of the recipients garnering a respectable number of performances. But there have been some real eyebrow-raisers too.

This year’s Prizes will be announced this afternoon at 3:00 EDT. You can catch the livestream at http://www.pulitzer.org.

2022 Pulitzer winner, “Voiceless Mass” by Raven Chacon

Aaron Copland conducts his 1945 winner, “Appalachian Spring,” at 80

The complete list of past recipients, including additional citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Music

May 8, 2023
Copland Ballets Rodeo Appalachian Spring Videos

I’m not sure that this will win any new friends to Copland’s music – the definition on the 49-year-old video tape is pretty poor – but it should still be of interest to anyone familiar with the oft-performed concert suite. Here’s the first 12 minutes of the ballet “Rodeo,” with the original Agnes DeMille choreography. DeMille herself is interviewed at the end of the segment. The ballet’s premiere in 1942 was attended by Rodgers and Hammerstein, who invited DeMille to provide the choreography for “Oklahoma!” Supposedly “Rodeo” was the first ballet to employ tap dance. I have to say, it’s great storytelling. The action fits the music like a leather work glove.

Unfortunately, the excerpt above does not contain the work’s most famous music, so here’s Copland himself to conduct the “Hoe-Down.” I guess it’s beef for dinner.

BONUS: Martha Graham and company perform “Appalachian Spring,” complete, in pristine footage!

November 14, 2022
Aaron Copland Birthday Celebration

The world was a better place with Aaron Copland in it. How fortunate that one of our greatest composers lived through an era when so much could be documented on film. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, here’s a Copland cornucopia, for his birthday.

Copland conducts “El Salón México,” for his 60th

Bernstein introduces Copland’s Clarinet Concerto

Copland conducts it in L.A., with Benny Goodman the soloist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYwPJrRnGSE

Copland plays his Piano Concerto, with Bernstein conducting

Copland conducts “Appalachian Spring” in D.C. on his 80th

Copland’s 80th birthday concert (complete), hosted by Hal Holbrook; conducted by Rostropovich, Bernstein, and Copland himself. Just listening to the composer’s opening remarks… we don’t have people like this anymore.

Copland interviewed and playing the coda of “Appalachian Spring” at the piano in his studio

“Appalachian Spring,” complete 1958 television broadcast with Martha Graham

“Aaron Copland: A Self Portrait”

Seiji Ozawa conducts Copland’s arrangement of “Happy Birthday” for Bernstein’s 70th

Happy birthday, Aaron Copland!

November 14, 2021
Aaron Copland Birthday Celebration

How fortunate that one of our greatest composers lived through an era when so much could be documented on film. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’ve assembled a Copland cornucopia, for his birthday.

Copland conducts “El Salón México,” for his 60th

Bernstein introduces Copland’s Clarinet Concerto

Copland conducts it in L.A., with Benny Goodman the soloist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYwPJrRnGSE

Copland plays his Piano Concerto, with Bernstein conducting

Copland conducts “Appalachian Spring” in D.C. on his 80th

Copland at home, playing the coda to “Appalachian Spring”

“Aaron Copland: A Self Portrait”

Seiji Ozawa conducts Copland’s arrangement of “Happy Birthday” for Bernstein’s 70th

Happy birthday, Aaron Copland!

November 14, 2020

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