Chapter 76

American Composers Return

from Europe: Copland and

Barber

The Life of Aaron Copland (1900–1990)

• 1900 - born in Brooklyn, NY• 1921-24 - Paris, studies with Nadia Boulanger• 1924 - settles in New York• 1928 - founds the Copland-Sessions Concerts of Contemporary Music• 1940-65 - teaches at Tanglewood• 1972 - final compositions• 1990 - dies in North Tarrytown, NY

Characteristics of Aaron Copland’s Music

• Following WWI, American musicians established a stronger contact with French musical culture.

• Aaron Copland was only one of the leading younger composers of the 1920’s who studied in France with Nadia Boulanger.

• Copland (like many of his American musicians) made his music express distinctively American themes and values, which he accomplished:– by a simple traditional style (Appalachian

Spring)– by the quotation of folk melodies (Ive’s

influence) [as seen in his ballet Appalachian Spring based on Shaker themes.]

Principal Compositions by Aaron Copland

• Orchestra: symphonies (3), character pieces include – El Salón Mexico– Lincoln Portrait (with narration)– Outdoor Overture

• Opera and ballets: ballets include – Appalachian Spring– Billy the Kid– Rodeo

• Chamber music: works include Violin Sonata and Nonet for strings

• Piano: works include – Piano Blues– Piano Fantasy– Sonata– Piano Variations

• Songs: Emily Dickinson songs, folk song arrangements

• Writings: include the book Music and Imagination

Aaron Copland, Piano Variations, 1930

Theme-and-variations form

Aaron Copland, Appalachian Spring, Suite 1945, Variations on a Shaker

Hymn

Theme-and-variations form

The Life of Samuel Barber (1910–1981)

• 1910 born in Philadelphia

• 1924 -32 studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, composition with Rosario Scalero

• 1939-42 teaches composition at Curtis

• 1962 wins Pulitzer Prize for Piano Concerto

• 1966 premiere of Antony and Cleopatra for the opening of the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center

• 1981 dies in New York

Samuel Barber’s Music

• Samuel Barber came to prominence by composing in a traditional romantic style– although he often tried his hand at other, more

contemporary trends in music.

• His Adagio for Strings is an example of his extension of the Wagnerian idiom – in its intense expressivity and enriched harmonic

language.

• His Hermit Songs (1953 – settings of Medieval Irish poetry) – depart from Romanticism of the earlier pieces– though they maintain the traditional values

associated with song composition.

Principal Compositions by Samuel Barber

• Orchestra: symphonies (2), character pieces, concertos

• Operas and ballets: include– Medea (ballet)– Vanessa (opera)– Antony and Cleopatra (opera)

• Chamber music: includes String Quartet, instrumental sonatas

• Piano: character pieces, Sonata (1949)

• Songs: about 40, including– Hermit Songs– Knoxville: Summer of 1915

Samuel Barber, Hermit Songs, 1953, “Sea-Snatch”

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