Aaron Copland is known for 'creating' the sound for American music and is widely known for his contributions to American musical tonality. In the year 1942, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Gossens, wrote Copland informing him of an idea he had. During World War I, Gossens had asked British composers to compose ten fanfares to perform at the beginning of orchestral concerts, and Gossens wanted to do the same thing for World War II; however, he asked American composers, Copland being one of them. Gossens wanted fanfares to express the American idealism and foster support and patriotism for the troops fighting in World War II. Out of the ten fanfares played by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra through the next two years, Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man still remains on the standard set list for the Orchestra to this day. With its soaring trumpets and powerful horns throughout the piece, this song displays tons of patriotism, nobility, and pride for America.
And on a side note, Copland decided to call the piece Fanfare for the Common Man because the song was meant to raise support for the troops fighting, and he knew that those troops were simple people, common men; therefore, he dedicated the song to them.
Resources: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5158688
I've actually heard this so many times in patriotic movies, and there is something so uniquely American about it! Isn't amazing that a song with no words can say som much about our country?
ReplyDelete~ Kristen
In our last class we touched on the depreciation of value of intrumental music in our current generation. Of course, we were talking in refrence to the 80's rock guitar and drum solos, but I think the same point can be made with classical music like the piece here. Kristen is right - something about it is so American! It is beautifully crafted, and took a lot more talent and work than half of the political songs on our class playlist. It is songs like this that make me want to grow my appreciation for music without lyrics.
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