Aaron Copland

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Aaron Copland

• 1900-1990
• 90 years

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Aaron Copland

• A leading American composer
• Grew up and worked in New York
• Sought to write works with American character

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Aaron Copland

• Used tunes and harmonies from
• Jazz
• Revival hymns
• Cowboy songs
• Other folk tunes

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Aaron Copland

• Very popular composer
• His music sounds uniquely American
• Most famous pieces were written for the ballet
• Billy the Kid
• Rodeo
• Appalachian Spring

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Aaron CoplandAppalachian Spring (1943-44)

• Ballet music for Martha Graham
• Like Stravinskys ballet music, now mostly
  performed as a concert work
• Includes piano and large percussion section

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Appalachian Spring

• Theme and Variations on Simple Gifts
• Based on a Shaker hymn tune
• Variations
• Tune is not changed
• Changes
• Tempo
• Tone color
• Dynamics
• Register
• Accompaniment

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Aaron Copland
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