Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man American music can be difficult to define, especially when so much of our music has its roots elsewhere. Many American composers were born in other countries and immigrated here. Many went abroad to receive their training, soaking up primarily … Read more
Barber, Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Summer may not start officially until June 21, but I grew up with the firm understanding that summer meant summer vacation, which commenced at the beginning of June. And I grew up in Houston where, if one looks only at … Read more
Bernstein, A Simple Song Simplicity is a virtue, the virtue of removing everything extraneous to something in order to reveal its true essence. After enduring the hoopla of the Super Bowl this week, I’m convinced it is mostly a forgotten virtue. I remember a lecture … Read more
Barbara Allen We have made numerous references to musicologists who have gone out into the countryside to record folk music. Bartók and Kodály in Hungary, Kolberg in Poland, Janáček in Moravia, John and Alan Lomax in America, for example. And we’ve often noted how folk music … Read more
Grofé, Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise) Ferde Grofé (1892-1972) is perhaps best known for the musical landscape Grand Canyon Suite, the opening movement of which (“Sunrise”) is featured here. But Grofé has much more on his resume that deserves attention, in particular his long history with … Read more
Jerome Kern, I’m Old Fashioned Jerome Kern (1885-1945) was one of the principal forces shaping American music in the early 20th century. Professor Carol often points to his 1927 musical Showboat as establishing the Broadway musical, our American form of opera. Songs from that show … Read more
Cole Porter, Too Darn Hot Professor Carol was in Ljubljana, Slovenia, for the first time earlier this summer. I’ve never been, but she tells me we’re moving there. She described its many attributes, all of which sound nice. But she left out two very important … Read more
Stephen Foster, Hard Times Come Again No More Each year as the Fourth of July approaches, I look for a Performance Pick that speaks to our American heritage. We’ve gone in many directions: Vieuxtemps’ variations on “Yankee Doodle,” works by Copland, Ives, Bill Monroe, and … Read more
Lauridsen, O Magnum Mysterium The poignant text of O magnum mysterium has been set many times. It appeared at least as early as the 10th century as a chant in the Daily Office of Matins. O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, O great mystery, and … Read more
Crumb, Voice of the Whale And now for something completely different. The American composer George Crumb (b. 1929) pushed many of the boundaries in 20th-century avant garde music. But unlike some of his contemporaries, he didn’t do it merely as an experiment or for shock … Read more