Chapter 76

American Composers Return from Europe:

Copland and Barber

Lecture Overview

• American artists in Paris in the 1920s• Nadia Boulanger: teaching and influence• Aaron Copland:

– life and works– Piano Variations– Appalachian Spring, Suite 1945, Variations on

a Shaker Hymn

• Samuel Barber:– life and works– (optional: Adagio for Strings)– Hermit Songs, “Sea-Snatch”

• Review

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

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 (highly

recommended)

Aaron Copland, Piano Variations, 1930

Theme-and-variations form

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

Theme-and-variations form

Gb

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

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”

Free ternary form

Review Key Terms

• Nadia Boulanger• Walt Whitman• Martha Graham• “Simple Gifts”• Adagio for Strings