Aaron Copland

Born- November 14, 1900

Died- December 2, 1990

About the Composer

• He wrote pieces American in character

• Used folklore, hymns, cowboys and folk songs in his music.

Appalachian Spring (1944)

• Ballet

• Commissioned piece

• Won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize

• About a spring celebration of American pioneers of the 1800’s after building a new farmhouse in Pennsylvania

• Include variations of a Shaker Tune (Simple Gifts)

Rodeo (1942)

• Ballet• Tale of a ranch wedding• Originally titled Four Dance Episodes

– Buckaroo Holiday– Corral Nocturne– Saturday Night Waltz– Hoe-Down (used for beef commercials)

Lincoln Portrait (1942)

• Orchestral piece• Narrated with excerpts of Abraham Lincoln’s

great documents including the Gettysburg Address

• During the WWII patriotic war effort

Billy the Kid

• Ballet

• Follows the life of Billy the Kid