Track Listing

1. Fanfare for the Common Man, for brass & percussion (from Symphony No. 3)
2. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: Very Slowly
3. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: Allegro
4. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: Moderato
5. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: Fast
6. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: Subito Allegro
7. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: As at first (Slowly)
8. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: Doppio movimento
9. Appalachian Spring, concert suite for full orchestra: Moderato - Coda
10. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: The Boatmen's Dance
11. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: The Dodger
12. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: Long Time Ago
13. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: Simple Gifts
14. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: I Bought Me a Cat
15. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: The Little Horses
16. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: Zion's Walls
17. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: The Golden Willow Tree
18. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: At the River
19. Old American Songs for voice & piano, Books 1 & 2: Ching-a-Ring Chaw
20. Rodeo, selections from the ballet (including 'Four Dance Episodes'): Four Dance Episodes. I. Buckaroo Holiday
21. Rodeo, selections from the ballet (including 'Four Dance Episodes'): Four Dance Episodes. II. Corral Nocturne
22. Rodeo, selections from the ballet (including 'Four Dance Episodes'): Four Dance Episodes. III. Saturday Night Waltz
23. Rodeo, selections from the ballet (including 'Four Dance Episodes'): Four Dance Episodes. IV. Hoedown
24. Symphony No. 3: Fanfare for the Common Man
25. Billy the Kid, orchestral suite from the ballet: Celebration (after Billy's capture)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37323 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2003-09-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

The real gems here are the "Old American Songs"
There are few composers who capture the American spirit as much as Aaron Copland; Jewish; born in Brooklyn; educated to some extent in Paris; and gay-nobody brings alive the colors and sounds of the Old West and American country life quite like him. Indeed almost every soundtrack to an old Wetern movie is a re-write of "Rodeo" or "Billy the Kid" Suite.

Copland's "Appalacian Spring" is an American "Pastorale", painting the deep green hills of America's heartland. But the real gems here are the "Old American Songs" which Copland arranges in a way that maintain the integrity and simplicity of each miniature while making them undoubtedly "Coplanesque". The delicate handling of these tunes by the expressive bass-baritone William Warfield makes for perfection, especially on the hymns "Simple Gifts" and "At the River".

Comparisons for instrumental pieces: Bernstein/NYPO (also outstanding)

A spectacular performance
For once Sony did a spectacular job at remastering this historical performance. The opening percussions of Fanfare for the Common Man are just explosive but the whole disc is full of colors and a tribute to Copland's masterpieces.
Don't be afraid to listen to this disc at concert levels, that's how it is best enjoyed and the best way to discover one of the most impressive American contemporary composers.
I am less enamored with Warfield's performance of the Old American songs but in all fairness they've never been my cup of tea to start with.

Copland conducts Copland
Item was recommended by a radio announcer. I think is okay. I thought that if Copland conducted his own works would be exciting but it was not. It is very boring.