Aaron Copland – 125th Birth Anniversary

On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of his birth, Stingray Classica celebrates the groundbreaking music of Aaron Copland (1900-1990). Considered the most important American composer of his generation, Copland played a significant role in developing a distinctive, national style of composition. His early works feature strong dissonances and jazz elements, but by the mid-1930s Copland decided to compose music that would appeal to a larger audience, developing a more accessible style. On Friday, November 14 at 21:00, Stingray Classica presents some of the composer’s signature pieces, starting with El Salón México (1936), performed by the Flanders Symphony Orchestra led by Adrien Perruchon. Inspired by a visit to the colorful night club of the same name in Mexico City, Copland composed the vibrant orchestral work, incorporating Mexican folk tunes. Afterward, Carlos Miguel Prieto leads the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in a performance of Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man (1942). The composer wrote his famous three-minute piece, which is scored for brass and percussion, in honor of ‘everyday people’ who were involved in World War II. Lastly, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería presents another Copland masterpiece: the Appalachian Spring Suite. Originally commissioned as a ballet for legendary dancer Martha Graham, Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring (1944) has since become an American classic. While first scored for a thirteen-piece ensemble, Copland later arranged the work for a full orchestra.