An American Sound

Available for 16 days

Donald Macleod explores Copland’s determination to create a sound that was unmistakably American. From the stark brilliance of the Piano Variations to the exuberance of El Salón México and his cowboy ballets including Billy the Kid, we hear how Copland blended jazz and folk tunes with a modern twist to capture the spirit of a nation. Hear Ye! Hear Ye! – ballet in one act: Scene i (Prelude) London Sinfonietta Oliver Knussen, conductor Piano Variations Leo Smit, piano Short Symphony (Symphony No. 2): i. Incisivo ii. Espressivo iii. Presto e ritmico Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin, conductor El Salón México New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein, conductor Billy the Kid Suite: i. Introduction: The Open Prairie ii. Street in a Frontier Town iii. Mexican Dance and Finale New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein, conductor