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Aaron Copland
I imagine for most people the music of Aaron Copland conjures up perfectly the idea of so-called Americana, and indeed many of his pieces such as Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, and Billy the Kid seem to be the musical equivalent of an Andrew Wyeth painting.
However, there's more to his music than just apple pie and cornfields, with lesser-known pieces such as Connotations and some of the music for solo piano presenting a perhaps unexpectedly dissonant side to his style. Hopefully my suggestions below will encourage you to explore further the music of one of my favourite composers.
Orchestral Works
For the best-known of Copland's symphonies I've chosen this refined account by the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Eiji Oue. The beginning of the last movement, in which Copland incorporates his famous Fanfare for the Common Man, is excitingly played while at the same time resisting the temptation to become a competition to decide who can play the loudest, and there are many moments of delicate polish from the strings in particular.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
A fine disc of Copland's lesser-known symphonies from Marin Alsop and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, including an infectiously spirited account of the Dance Symphony and a searching performance of Symphony No. 1.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Leonard Slatkin conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in a lively performance of the complete Rodeo, (including the Ranch House Party movement omitted from the Four Dance Episodes), featuring a witty, laid-back Hoe-Down. There's also a fantastic, Mariachi-inspired trumpet solo in El Salón México, and a catchily toe-tapping rendition of Danzón Cubano.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Michael Collins directs the Swedish Chamber Orchestra from the clarinet in this beautifully expressive recording. The first movement in particular is ravishingly lyrical, and there's some incisive, rhythmic playing in the second movement.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Copland was no stranger to the world of film scoring, and this disc by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Litton presents a suite from his evocative score for the 1949 adaptation of Steinbeck's The Red Pony. Also on the disc are a dramatic performance of Music for the Theater and the Organ Symphony with Wayne Marshall at his virtuosic best.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Chinese-born pianist Xiayin Wang is the soloist for this energetic performance of Copland's quirky concerto. Conductor Peter Oundjian and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra bring just the right amount of swagger to their splendid playing.
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Neville Marriner conducts the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in this wistfully poignant piece, with elegant contributions from Celia Nicklin on cor anglais and Michael Laird on trumpet.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
A collection of some lesser-known orchestral pieces from the Seattle Symphony under Gerard Schwarz, which I've included primarily for the performance of Lincoln Portrait, featuring none other than Darth Vader himself, James Earl Jones, as narrator. His deeply rich and mellifluous tones are an absolute pleasure to listen to.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Vocal and Choral Music
Barbara Bonney is the sweet-toned soprano soloist in this delightful performance of Copland's song cycle, partnered at the piano by the magnificent André Previn.
Available Format: Presto CD
A polished performance by the Dunedin Consort under Ben Parry of Copland's choral work, In the Beginning, which sets portions of the King James translation of the biblical book of Genesis, including an eloquent contribution by mezzo-soprano soloist Sally Bruce-Payne. The disc also includes an excellent performance of the Four Motets.
Available Format: CD
Chamber and Instrumental Works
A survey of Copland's major works for solo piano from pianist Benjamin Pasternack, presenting a different side of the composer to those familiar only with his Americana style of composition. The main work on the disc is the half-hour, quasi-twelve-tone Piano Fantasy, a difficult work to bring off, but which is given an impressive rendition by Pasternack.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
An outstanding performance by violinist James Ehnes and pianist Orion Weiss of Copland's rarely-heard Violin Sonata. Both performers find a tender simplicity in the central slow movement, and a light, sprightly approach in the jolly final Allegretto.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
An ideal performance of Copland's Two Pieces from the Brodsky Quartet, full of character and remarkable virtuosity. They also treat us to a cheeky arrangement for string quartet of the Hoe-Down from the ballet Rodeo.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Collections
If you want a good sampling of Copland's orchestral works, then this 2-CD compilation comes highly recommended, with excellent performances of works such as Appalachian Spring, Quiet City, El Salón México and others, with distinguished conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Antál Dorati, and Neville Marriner. Marilyn Horne is the soloist for selections from the Old American Songs, whilst Gregory Peck narrates Lincoln Portrait.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Sadly only currently available as a download, this collection of American music conducted by Leonard Bernstein includes his classic account of Symphony No. 3 with the New York Philharmonic, as well as performances of pieces such as El Salón México, Quiet City, and Music for the Theater, and one of a very few available performances of the orchestral work, Connotations.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Copland conducted many of his own works, and this 5-CD set brings together many of his own recordings, mainly with the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as an extensive survey of the solo piano music by Leo Smit. A particular highlight is a recording of the Clarinet Concerto with Benny Goodman, for whom the concerto was written.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
James Longstaffe - Head of Retail
