Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

This week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Aaron Copland, one of the most distinctive voices in 20th-century American music. From his Brooklyn childhood and formative studies in Paris to his return home with bold new ideas, Copland’s career charts a path through modernism, jazz, and the search for an unmistakably American sound. We hear music that captures the spirit of a nation – from Billy the Kid and Lincoln Portrait to his Fanfare for the Common Man, before he made the move from composer to conductor. Music featured includes: 4 Dance Episodes from Rodeo: iv. Hoe Down Two Preludes for violin and piano Four Early Songs: i. Night; ii. A Summer Vacation; iii. My Heart is in the East; iv. Alone Four Motets: iii. Have Mercy on Us, O My Lord Three Moods: i. Embittered; ii. Wistful; iii. Jazzy Symphony for Organ and Orchestra: ii. Scherzo; iii. Finale: Lento The Cat and the Mouse Old Poem; Pastorale Music for the Theater: i. Prologue; ii. Dance Piano Concerto Vitebsk (trio for violin, cello and piano) Hear Ye! Hear Ye! – ballet in one act: Scene i (Prelude) Piano Variations Short Symphony (Symphony No. 2): i. Incisivo; ii. Espressivo; iii. Presto e ritmico El Salón México Billy the Kid Suite: i. Introduction: The Open Prairie; ii. Street in a Frontier Town; iii. Mexican Dance and Finale Letter from Home Appalachian Spring Suite: v. Solo Dance; vi. Meno mosso; vii. Variation on a Shaker Hymn Clarinet Concerto Lincoln Portrait Fanfare for the Common Man Two Pieces for String Quartet: No. 2. Allegro Moderato Piano Quartet: iii. Non troppo lento Music for a Great City: i. Skyline Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Elizabeth Ajao for BBC Audio Wales & West For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Aaron Copland (1900-1990): And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here:

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Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is an episode from Composer of the Week by BBC.

This episode is 73:47 long.

This episode was published on Jan 13, 2026.

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