Composer Of The Week

This week, Donald Macleod explores Aaron Copland’s most productive decade, and features some of his best loved works in full. During this time Copland hit his prime. He became recognised as America’s leading composer, winning the Pulitzer Prize in Music and an Academy Award for his work in Hollywood.He toured Europe and South America, absorbing diverse influences from each, and composed key works including his Symphony No.3, Appalachian Spring, Lincoln Portrait, Fanfare for the Common Man and Rodeo.We get a sense of how Copland’s personal and professional interests developed over the 1940s and learn about his friendships and challenges during and in the aftermath of World War II.Music Featured: John Henry: A Railroad Ballet for Orchestra Quiet City Piano Sonata Our Town Music for Movies Lincoln Portrait Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes Danzón Cubano - (version for 2 pianos) Las Agachadas (The Shake-Down Song) Sonata for violin and piano Fanfare for the Common Man Appalachian Spring Suite (version for 13 instruments