Contributions Of Aaron Copland Music

I understand and appreciate the three planes of listening that Copland had broken up for his readers, but the tone and manner in which some of the planes were discussed did not resonate well while I was reading this. Throughout almost all of the chapter, Copland’s tone was harsh and condescending towards the reader, as if he knew absolutely everything about music and the reader knew nothing. I am also not sure what it takes to be a “qualified music lover,” (Copland, 8) but I am sure that it is not much.

Music during the progressive era progressed drastically during this time period. Songs became more complex, and sophisticated. They told the stories of individuals lives, or the lives of a certain group of people. The songs showed how people felt about political issues and personal matters. Not only did music change, but new forms of music were created. Brilliant musicians and songwriters were discovered during the progressive era. All and all, some amazing musical discoveries happened during the progressive era.

At this time, Gershwin's career skyrocketed. He was hired by George White to compose for the Scandals series. He continued doing this for four years. During this time, Gershwin composed his first operetta, Blue Monday. It impressed Paul Whiteman, a famous bandleader, so much that he asked Gershwin to compose a symphonic jazz piece. At this time, however, Gershwin was still busy composing for White and forgot to compose for Whiteman until only one month before the scheduled performance. During this rushed creation, Gershwin found inspiration to create his most famous individual piece, Rhapsody in Blue. At its first performance, the piece was loved by the audience so much that they gave it a standing ovation.

I do agree that Aaron Copland’s works are examples of music with an American quality. The reason for this is because “Hoe-Down” was very energetic and was square dance music. Square dancing and square dance music is something that is of American tradition and people all over America enjoy to hear. I also agree with this statement because “Hoe-Down” has been used in movies and I am sure that so have his other best-known works. Movies make up a great deal of the American life and without good music those movies cannot reach their potential therefore the wonderful music helps give quality to both the ear and the eye because of the visuals and emotions that come with listening to the music.

Additionally, there are other countries who had their influences in music in the USA, for example Mexicans. Mexicans helped to develop the Tex-Mex

Over the course of history, the arts have played an important role in aspects of people’s lives. More specifically, music is something that has been around for centuries and will continue to play a part in shaping people into who they are. There have been numerous talented composers in America, but some worth mentioning are Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin.

When looking at the characteristics of his work, Copland could most likely be described as an experimentalist. He often enjoyed mixing various stylistic ideas of Jazz and Mexican dance rhythms into his music and did not shy away from including these styles into his film scores and

Copland became interested in conducting in the 1950s. The twenty years Copland toured the world conducting work he had done as a composer and an organizer. He conducted both live performances and created a collection of recorded work. By the early 70s, Copland ceased to write new compositions and spent all of his time conducting and reworking older compositions. Copland conducted his last symphony in 1983. Aaron Copland was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He died shortly after his diagnosis on December 2, 1990, in North Tarrytown, New

Aaron Copland was a conductor, teacher, writer and composer, he was born Nov.14,1900 in Brooklyn, New York. Aaron is the youngest of 5 children's. Copland older sister gave him lessons on the piano which he had developed an interest for. After graduating high school Copland furthered his lessons in music and studied at the American Conservation in Fontainebleau where he had a French teacher named Nadia Boulanger. He had spent the final years of his life living in New York. Copland died in December 2, 1990 in New York, New York. Copland was remembered as someone who encouraged composers to find their voice, no matter the style just as him hisself did.

Europe was not the only part of the world that experienced change in music. The United States also began a change in music that drastically improved the way we listen to, compose, and disperse music. Before the 1960s, there was an increase in different types of music that displayed characteristics much different from the nineteenth century and beyond. People began to play with tone, timing, rhythm and much more.

Looking back in time at the great composers of the world, only one foreign composer stands out for his many contributions to classical music and in helping America to find its own music. Antonin Leopold Dvorak was born on September 8th, 1841, in a small village of Nelahozeves in Bohemia that lies on the bank of the Mauldau River. The village Dvorak was born into was in good company and surroundings however also retained much of its native luster even through the worst times of political oppression (1).

Wayne Peterson “was born in Albert Lea, a small town Minnesota on March 8th 1927” (Henken, 1992, pp 1). He is now retired and has been living in San Francisco, California since 1960. Since Peterson is still alive and a private man there are currently no sources that tell how he started writing his music. Although it is known that where he began composing and that he composed under the influences of Copland, Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Bartok. Wayne Peterson played piano and studied composition in Minnesota University where he received not only his bachelors and masters but also his PhD. While he studied at Minnesota University, he studied with American composers, Paul Fetler, Earl George and James Aliferis. “Peterson went on to advance his studies after his PhD on a Fulbright Scholarship, which enabled him to spend a

Who is the composer (full name and dates)? List three points about his life and environment.

There are many elements that led to the expansion of music in the 20th Century. In some ways these elements were all linked to each other and it is difficult to say what events or ideas triggered the huge development of music. For example, World War I and II in the first half of the century lead to the rapid development of technology and communications as well as, eventually, political and social freedom, all aspects which have created changes and growth. The great advances in technology were in part responsible for globalism, although nationalism was also partly a product of the wars. The advent of the Great Wars also produced great emotion.

The history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20th century American music. American 20th century music is made up of a diverse number of styles that are reflected by cultural traditions and the era’s of the past. Immigrants from Spain, France, England, Germany and Ireland all contributed and brought their own unique styles to the forefront, hence creating American music. African Americans created influential musical traditions that include rhythm and improvisation that were later combined with European traditions and other indigenous music.