大象传媒

Donald Macleod explores how Copland鈥檚 initial trip to Mexico left a lasting impression on him.

This week of programmes explores Aaron Copland鈥檚 most productive decade, and features some of his best-loved works in full. During this time, Copland hit his prime. He became recognised as America鈥檚 leading composer, winning the Pulitzer Prize in Music and an Academy Award for his work in Hollywood.

He toured Europe and South America, absorbing diverse influences from each, and composed key works including his Third Symphony, Appalachian Spring, Lincoln Portrait, Fanfare for the Common Man and Rodeo.

We get a sense of how Copland鈥檚 personal and professional interests developed over the 1940s and learn about his friendships and challenges during and in the aftermath of World War II.

In this episode, Copland is inspired by Mexico, and the cultural riches he discovered there that seemed to him to be so lacking in the US. It spurred him to 鈥渁waken the spiritual consciences of the people鈥� in his music. It also encouraged him to travel more widely in South America in 1941, and marked a new stage in his lifelong friendship with the Mexican composer Carlos Ch谩vez.

John Henry: A Railroad Ballet for Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
Aaron Copland, conductor

Quiet City
Maurice Murphy, trumpet
Christine Pendrill, cor anglais
London Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor

Piano Sonata
Leon Fleisher, piano

Our Town
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor

Produced by Iain Chambers for 大象传媒 Wales