Aaron Copland
1900-1990
Period of Music: 20th Century
Nationality: American
Instruments he played: Piano
Major compositions: Symphony for Organ and
Orchestra, Billy the
Kid (ballet),
Rodeo (ballet), A Lincoln Portrait,
Of Mice and Men
(movie
score), The Red Pony (movie score), Our Town (movie score),
The Heiress (movie score), Fanfare
for the Common Man,
Appalachian Spring
Interesting Facts:
-Aaron Copland was
born in Brooklyn, NY on November 14, 1900.
-He started showing an
interest in music when he was about seven years old.
-As a boy Copland
spent hours listening to records on his cousin’s phonograph,
which was a new invention at the time.
-He went to Paris to
study with composer Nadia Boulanger in 1921.
-Copland was
influenced by the styles of composers such as Debussy, Scriabin,
and Ravel.
-He explored the
possibilities for incorporating jazz into symphonic music.
-Copland frequently
used folk music in his compositions.
-“Hoe Down” from the ballet Rodeo
has been used in television commercials for
the beef industry.
-He won an Academy
Award for the score of The Heiress in
1950.
-As well as writing
music, Aaron Copland was a professor, conductor, lecturer,
and author.
-Copland earned the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964.
