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History of Aaron Copland
(1900-1990)
Lesson One
Lauren Reynolds
The Early Years
• Born November 14, 1900 in Brooklyn, NY
• Parents were immigrants from Lithuania
• Began playing piano at young age
▫ Taught by his older sister
• At 16, he went to a private music school in Manhattan
▫ Taught by Rubin Goldmark
The Early Years
• Surrounded himself with music while studying composition
• At 20, he went to France to attend the Summer School of Music
for American Students in Fountainbleu
▫ Studied under Nadia Boulanger
• Published his first piece “The Cat and the Mouse”
in 1920
A Successful Career
• Began conducting as well as composing
• Traveled across the world premiering his pieces and other
American composer’s works
• In the 1970’s, he stopped writing and focused on conducting and
making his pieces even more special
• Considered the most influential American composer in the
twentieth century
• Died on December 2, 1990
Well-Known Works
• “Fanfare for the Common Man” – (1942)
• Four ballets:
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“El Salón México” – (1935)
“Billy the Kid” – (1938)
“Rodeo” – (1942)
“Appalachian Spring” – (1944)
Well-Known Works
• Also wrote film scores:
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“Of Mice and Men” – (1939)
“The City” – (1939)
“Our Town” – (1940)
“The Heiress” – (1949)
Awards and Achievements
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Considered the most honored American Composer
Received Pulitzer Prize for “Appalachian Spring”
Academy Award for “The Heiress”
National Medal of Arts in 1986
Bibliography
• http://www.americancomposers.org/raksin_copland.htm
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/aaron-copland/about-thecomposer/475/
• http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/c/fotos/copland.jpg
• http://4.bp.blogspot.com/Nrb23Xg9EoQ/To0jWzKdb_I/AAAAAAAADzs/EaiYShE4w64/s320/Copeland_Conducting.
jpg
• http://www.myhero.com/images/guest/g237598/hero71994/g237598_u84715_image002.j
pg