A Copland Tribute
Claire Grundman's A Copland Tribute, a collage of passages
from works of Aaron Copland, was created in 1985 to honor the eminent Brooklyn-born
composer's 85th birthday. This adaptation will enable concert band
performers and their audiences to enjoy a varied sampling from the most
popular music of one of America's most esteemed composers. This past
November 14 would have been Mr. Copland's 100th birthday. A
Copland Tribute begins with a statement of Fanfare for the Common
Man, a work for brass and percussion composed in 1942 to honor the
role of the common man during World War II. Copland later used an
altered version of this music as the introduction to the finale of his
Third Symphony. Elements of both versions are found in the Grundman
setting. Next come several passages from one of Copland's most celebrated
works--Appalachian Spring--a ballet composed for Martha Graham and
commissioned by the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation. Included
in the popular "Variations on a Shaker Melody" ("'Tis the Gift to be Simple").
Appalachian Spring was premiered by Miss Graham in 1944 and received
the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for music, as well as the Music Critics Circle
Award for the 1944Ð1945 season. Grundaman's A Copland Tribute
concludes with music from two dance episodes from the ballet Rodeo:
"Buckaroo Holiday" and "Hoe-Down." Originally titled "The Courting
at Burnt Ranch," Rodeo was created in collaboration with choreographer
Agnes De Mille, commissioned by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo for their
1942-43 season.