Copland - Appalachian Spring (1987)

Classic Copland repertoire recorded by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic during their prime. The second or third repackaging of these recordings by CBS/Columbia. To be honest, when I hear Copland, I always compare the performances to these - I just love Bernstein's interpretations of these works. Heck, this is the second time some of them have appeared on this blog. Two musical geniuses of the 20th century in collaboration with one of the greatest performing orchestras in the world. It don't get much better than that.

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Fanfare For The Common Man (From the Fourth Movement of Symphony No. 3) (1946), recorded at Philharmonic Hall, New York City, 1966.

HiFi/Stereo Review, August 1967, p. 78

The exact same recording appears on this CD: Appalachian Spring Suite.

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Appalachian Spring (1944), recorded at Manhattan Center, New York City, 1961.

HiFi/Stereo Review, November 1962, p. 78

The exact same recording appears on this CD: Appalachian Spring Suite.

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Rodeo (1942), recorded at Manhattan Center, New York City, 1960.
Billy The Kid (1938), recorded at Symphony Hall, Boston, 1959.

HiFi/Stereo Review, February 1961, p. 72

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Billy The Kid/Rodeo (1986)
Appalachian Spring Suite (1982)

Copland - Billy The Kid/Rodeo (1986)

Leonard Slatkin conducting the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Recorded October 8 & 9, 1985, in Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis.

Copland's two cowboy ballets. Honestly, I prefer Bernstein's recordings of Copland with the NY Phil from the '60s.

Billy The Kid (1938), ballet commissioned by Lincoln Kerstein. It's nice to hear the full ballet instead of the more often performed suite. Slatkin was at the height of his popular in the late '80s, but his interpretation here isn't very exciting.

Rodeo (1942), ballet originally choreographed by Agnes de Mille. Much better composition, much better performance and interpretation. All 4 movements are wonderful; this ballet is possibly my favorite Copland work. I'm not a go-the-ballet guy, but if I had the opportunity to see this, I'd probably check it out. If I didn't like the dancing, I could just close my eyes and enjoy the music.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Even though I bought this CD while in college, listened to the Rodeo tracks of this CD mainly when I was working on a marching band arrangement of Rodeo around 1994 or 95. It wasn't a great arrangement, but I wonder if the LHS band still has a recording of it.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Appalachian Spring Suite (1982)

Copland - Appalachian Spring Suite (1982)

Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic.

While I prefer Copland's other ballet music, particularly Rodeo and Billy The Kid, the suite adapted from Appalachian Spring is classic Copland. After all, it won him the Pulitzer Prize. While many people like the Shaker melody The Gift To Be Simple included near the end of the suite, I prefer the slow, moving coda that follows.

I have been familiar with El Salón México since college and I can't remember how I became familiar with it. I may have played a band transcription of it or, embarassingly, from a DCI drum corps recording.

On all 4 pieces included on this disc, Bernstein's interpretation is amazing. I've heard many different versions of these pieces, but still come back to these as the best versions. From what I can tell, these recordings were made in 1962, 1963, and 1967, when Bernstein was at his best as he was conducting more and composing less.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I believe I purchased this CD when I was working on a marching band arrangement of Appalachian Spring around 1994 or 95. It wasn't a great arrangement, but I wonder if the LHS still has a recording of it.