Taking our cue from a performance of Copland's ballet score Billy the Kid scheduled for 10 June at the Royal Concert Hall, we shall explore the music by him and composers and performers he knew, worked with and supported. Composers include Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Roy Harris and Benjamin Britten; performers include clarinettist Benny Goodman, choreographers Martha Graham and Agnes de Mille, and conductor Serge Koussevitsky.
Course aim
To explore some of Copland's music and that of his friends and colleagues - fellow composers such as Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein and performers including Benny Goodman.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners
- This course is for improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- List six major works by Aaron Copland
- Name six composers that he knew personally and worked with
- Name four performers that he knew personally and worked with
- List three works by Aaron Copland
- Recall, from any of the works studied, three characteristics that could be considered typically American
What else do I need to know?
You may wish to bring a folder for handouts, a notepad and pen. Nothing else is needed
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