Aaron Copland essay
Ana Peralta, Joel Peralta, & Christina Aispuro
November 19, 2012
Professor Jenkins
Aaron Copland
Music has shaped the world since it originated and it keeps developing to inspire people. The Twentieth Century music was in the time frame of 1900 through 2009. Every musical period in time has some influences that help develop the unique styles of this era. Aaron Copland was an intelligent individual of this time. He participated in musical works from 1900 to 1990. Aaron Copland was known as the American Composer because his works were simply the American sound. Copland’s development as the iconic American figure was emerged from his life background, the time era’s events, and his cultural context of his music. Aaron Copland was the Iconic American Composer who lived a bachelor life. “He lived alone, as he had his whole life, a bachelor; he worked on a plank desk supported by a simple sawhorse” (source 3). He was born on November 14, 1900 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants and he was the brother of four siblings. His father, Harris Morris Copland was an immigrant who came to America when he was seventeen. His mother, Sarah Mittenthal, came to America with her family at the age of six, and Aaron was closest to his mother. After a year of training, he learned all he could through his sister Laurine’s lessons. She had no more to teach him since she taught him everything she knew, so even though his parents were not supportive in his music, he still pursued to further his education for music. Ludwig Wolfsohn was his first real teacher and after three years with him he advanced to a European trained concert pianist, Victor Wittgenstein. He graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn and while being there studied theory under Rubin Goldmark, which only increased to further his desire for modern music. The turning point in his life came when he received and won a scholarship for the American Conservatory at Fortainbleu, France.
November 19, 2012
Professor Jenkins
Aaron Copland
Music has shaped the world since it originated and it keeps developing to inspire people. The Twentieth Century music was in the time frame of 1900 through 2009. Every musical period in time has some influences that help develop the unique styles of this era. Aaron Copland was an intelligent individual of this time. He participated in musical works from 1900 to 1990. Aaron Copland was known as the American Composer because his works were simply the American sound. Copland’s development as the iconic American figure was emerged from his life background, the time era’s events, and his cultural context of his music. Aaron Copland was the Iconic American Composer who lived a bachelor life. “He lived alone, as he had his whole life, a bachelor; he worked on a plank desk supported by a simple sawhorse” (source 3). He was born on November 14, 1900 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants and he was the brother of four siblings. His father, Harris Morris Copland was an immigrant who came to America when he was seventeen. His mother, Sarah Mittenthal, came to America with her family at the age of six, and Aaron was closest to his mother. After a year of training, he learned all he could through his sister Laurine’s lessons. She had no more to teach him since she taught him everything she knew, so even though his parents were not supportive in his music, he still pursued to further his education for music. Ludwig Wolfsohn was his first real teacher and after three years with him he advanced to a European trained concert pianist, Victor Wittgenstein. He graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn and while being there studied theory under Rubin Goldmark, which only increased to further his desire for modern music. The turning point in his life came when he received and won a scholarship for the American Conservatory at Fortainbleu, France.
Cited: Crist, Elizabeth B. “Aaron Copland and the Popular Front.” Journal of the American Musicological Society 56.2 (2003). 409-65 Hung, Eric, and Leslie Andersen. “Aaron Copland: Music in the 20’s”. Notes 69.1 (2012: 146-147). Literary Reference Center. Web. 9 Nov. 2012 Kamien, Roger. Music: An Appreciation. Seventh. New York: McGraw Hill. 2011 Keeping Score. Dir PBS, Perf. Aaron Copland and the American Sound. 2010 Pniewski, Tom. “The Copland Century.” World & I 15.11 (2000): 70. Master File Elite. Web. 9 Nov. 2012