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"Rodeo" is amazing, "Quiet City" is gorgeous and there's an entire oratorio that he wrote called The Creation that's absolutely breathtaking. He's written a ton of piano music as well as all the folk songs he collected, edited, arranged, and compiled. They're SO nice. Don't even get me started! (wait. You already did!!) Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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Yeah, those Beef commercials were my first introduction to Copeland as well. And people say TV is bad for ya. Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
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There is a piano piece of his that you should look for. It is one of his very early works and doesn't sound a lot like the rest of his stuff, but it is very fun. I would bet your kids would love it.
The title is "The Cat and the Mouse" -scherzo humoristique (which means funny joke).
I don't think they've ever written a Tom and Jerry cartoon to go with the music, but they should. It was one of my favorite pieces to play of all time.
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Mmmm . . . Copeland. I played "Rodeo" in high school orchestra and love "Fanfare for the Common Man." My uncle wants "Fanfare" played at his funeral, and I think it's a lovely idea.
Posts: 1903 | Registered: Sep 2003
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It's his mastery of several styles that makes him one of the premiere American composers. Contrast Rodeo and the other mid-century ballets with, say, the Piano Variations (1930), or Threnody (1971). Quite a talent.
FWIW, there are two Copelands in the classical scene: an Austrian, Paul, and an American, Russell. Depend on Google at your own risk.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
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Ah yes, I just learned about him last semester, and I really like Fanfare for the Common Man as well.
Posts: 332 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Actually you might want to put "Copland" into Google. That's how it's supposed to be spelled. Just in case anyone had any trouble with that... Posts: 2523 | Registered: May 2000
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Usually I like being subtle in written form, since you give an audience the opportunity to reread. Sometimes I cross the line Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
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Stewart Copeland is also a musician of varied interests. I think I heard he wrote an opera once or something. I never liked any of his Police songs much, though. His dad is also a musician. I remember one of my dad's musician friends knew him. He used to work for the FBI or something and that's where the idea for the name of the band came, from him, if I'm remembering the story right.
I think Aaron is a better composer than Stewart, anyway. Posts: 5509 | Registered: May 1999
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He's not a favorite or anything. As Americans go, Ives was more strikingly innovative, Barber more brilliant, Gershwin accessible, Reich realistic. And that's excluding non-classical composers like Thelonius Monk, or true contemporaries like Eric Whitacre.
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
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I DO count Appalachian Spring as being among my favorite pieces of music of any genre. The prayer part at the end is amazing, for instance, and I love his treatment of the "'Tis the Gift" theme. I was telling Human the other night that I don't usually like soundtracks, then I realized I was wrong. Appalachian Spring is a soundtrack of sorts, having been written for a ballet, and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Firebird Suite, and Petroushka as well, which I also love.
Posts: 5509 | Registered: May 1999
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You guys HAVE to get his first clarinet concerto. The opening is absolutely gorgeous. Seriously heartbreaking stuff. Then it gets jazzy, kinda fun, but nowhere near as awe-inspiring as the first half.
It's probably hard to get, though. I only knew it cause I played in this concerto competition, and the clarinetist was one of the winners, so he obviously knew it and chose to play that one. But no one else was very familiar with it that was as young as I was.
[ February 29, 2004, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: Book ]
Posts: 2258 | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote: I think Aaron is a better composer than Stewart, anyway.
Yeah, but Stewart is a better drummer.
Actually, if I had to pick a favorite all-time rock drummer, I think Stewart would just barely edge out Neil Peart. He's got so much soul, it's incredible. As a composer, he may not be as good as Aaron, but he's pretty good. I have several of his solo albums, and they're fascinating.
It kind of bugs me when he gets the short end of the stick as far as credit for the success of The Police. He wrote some good songs, and Sting's songs wouldn't have had nearly the energy if it weren't for Stewart. Sting tends to be good when he's collaborating with other geniuses. He had Stewart in The Police, and Branford on his first couple solo albums, and as soon as Branford left he went from consistently brilliant to a mix of not-bad, mediocre and embarrassing. I mean, did you hear his song on the Oscars tonight? Was that all just one note, or am I imagining things? And what's up with his latest single, with the boring pop song laid over with a looped bar of some shrill Arabic wailing to give it a "world music" feeling, and inane lyrics about sending your love to heal the world. When did he turn into such a wuss?
Sorry. Back to topic... I love Aaron Copland. Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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