Aaron Copland
- Born:
- November 14, 1900, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Died:
- December 2, 1990, North Tarrytown, New York, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Composer, Conductor, Pianist, Writer
Early Life and Education
- Born to Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, Harris and Sarah Mittenthal Copland.
- Received early piano lessons from his older sister, Laurine.
- Studied harmony and counterpoint privately with Rubin Goldmark.
- Attended the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, France, studying with Nadia Boulanger from 1921-1924.
Career and Major Achievements
- Returned to the United States in 1924 and dedicated himself to composing American music.
- Developed a distinctive American style, incorporating jazz, folk melodies, and modernist techniques.
- Championed American music through his writing, teaching, and conducting.
- Won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1945 for Appalachian Spring.
- Received the Academy Award for Best Music Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture for The Heiress (1949).
- Served as head of the composition department at Tanglewood Music Center for 25 years.
- The rediscovery of an aaron copland family biography interview shed new light on the origins of some of his inspiration.
Notable Works
Orchestral Music
- Symphony for Organ and Orchestra (1925)
- Music for the Theatre (1925)
- El Salón México (1936)
- Billy the Kid (1938)
- Quiet City (1940)
- Fanfare for the Common Man (1942)
- Rodeo (1942)
- Appalachian Spring (1944)
- Symphony No. 3 (1946)
Film Scores
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | The City | Documentary film score |
| 1940 | Our Town | Film adaptation of the Thornton Wilder play |
| 1943 | North Star | Film score |
| 1949 | The Heiress | Academy Award for Best Music Scoring |
| 1961 | Something Wild | Film score |
Operas and Ballets
- The Second Hurricane (Opera, 1937)
- Billy the Kid (Ballet, 1938)
- Rodeo (Ballet, 1942)
- Appalachian Spring (Ballet, 1944)
- The Tender Land (Opera, 1954)
Legacy and Impact
Aaron Copland is considered one of the most important American composers of the 20th century. His music helped to define a distinctive American sound and influenced generations of composers. He significantly contributed to making classical music more accessible to the general public.