Aaron Copland 1900-1990

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Aaron Copland1900-1990

• Born in Brooklyn, New York to
• a Jewish family
• Mother supported her 5 childrens
• music education
• Most musical exposure was at Jewish ceremonial
  events.
• Age 11-First opera scenario
• Age 13-began formal composition lessons
• The cultural environment of New York allowed for
  eclectic style.

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Aaron Copland1900-1990

• 1917-1921- Paris
• 1925-Returned to America
• Compositions of this time reflected modern
  trends
• Began Young Composers Group
• Introduced to Alfred Steiglitzs artistic circle
• the American artist should reflect the ideas of
  American Democracy
• Joined together with other young composers to
• attempt to achieve American sound

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Aaron Copland1900-1990

• During the Great Depression
• music for use
• Wide appeal
• Easily learned
• Film music
• 1939-Billy the Kid
• 1940s Much success and world-wide fame
• Rodeo
• Appalachian Spring
• Fanfare for the Common Man

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Aaron Copland1900-1990

• 1950s experimentation
• and advocacy of alternative
• methods
• Influence on Bernstein
• Late life conducting
• Died of Alzheimer's

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Appalachian Spring

• 1944- for Martha Graham
• 1945-Pulitzer Prize
• American Pioneers of the 1800s
• Employs Shaker tune Simple Gifts
• Fanfare for the Common Man
• Commissioned by Cincinnati Symphony

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Leonard Bernstein1918-1990

• Born Lawrence, MA to a family of
• Russian Jews
• Father opposed interest in music
• 1934-Attended Harvard University, Curtis
  Institute for conducting
• Post graduation moved to New York
• 1940 Tanglewood Music Center
• Studies with Koussevitzky
• 1951-Marriage to actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn
  

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Leonard Bernstein1918-1990

• 1943-Replaced Bruno Walter
• Instant fame
• advocate of new music
• 1957-Music Director NY Phil
• Young Peoples Concerts
• 1960s revived interest in Mahlers music
• 1970s- Vienna Philharmonic
• 1973-Norton Lectures
• 1989-Beethoven 9 at fall of Berlin Wall

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Candide

• Words by Stephen Sondheim
• Opera vs Musical argument
• Based on book by Voltaire
• Initial failure, revived success