. . . or click on the link here for Audio Player – The Eastman School Symphony – Howard Hanson, Cond. – Copland: Quiet City – March 9, 1953 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection.
Something familiar this week by one of America‘s greatest composers. Quiet City by Aaron Copland, in a performance by The Eastman School Symphony, conducted by Howard Hanson as part of the America’s Composers broadcast series of March 9, 1953.
Hard to imagine Copland being considered one of those “ultra-modern composers” even as late as 1953. But to some people Copland was an upstart and rebel and his music took some getting used to. Well, perhaps in some circles, but none that I knew about. Copland has always represented Americana at its most pure and rough-hewn, but also it’s most accessible. And this performance of Quiet City, maybe not as sparkling and expansive as say, Leonard Bernstein‘s, is still highly evocative and haunting in its simplicity.
If you aren’t familiar with the music of Aaron Copland – you need to stop everything and go on a search to fill your ears with as much of his music as you can find. It’s the stuff that stays with you and is essential for sustaining life on this planet.
But that’s just me.
Enjoy anyway.
Quiet City is a wonderful and delicate work. Hanson supports it so convincingly !! Thanks….