Now On Sale: New DSO Recording of Copland's <em>Appalachian Spring</em>

Now On Sale: New DSO Recording of Copland’s “Appalachian Spring”
September 9, 2016 leonard slatkin

September 9, 2016

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Aaron Copland’s internationally celebrated masterpiece, Appalachian Spring, and his jazz-influenced ballet, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!, is now available for sale on the Naxos label. This release is volume two of the Complete Ballet series.

Appalachian Spring (1944), a beloved staple of dance companies worldwide, was a collaboration between Copland and legendary choreographer Martha Graham. Set in rural Pennsylvania during the 19th century, it tells the idyllic tale of newlyweds building a simple life together. The score draws on American folk music, including fiddle tunes and the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts.”

In contrast, the lesser-known Hear Ye! Hear Ye! (1934) shows a different side of America, revealing the story of a nightclub murder and the ensuing trial in a Chicago courtroom. Copland wrote the work for Ruth Page, who went on to become the Grande Dame of American ballet, and infused his score with jazz-inflected passages, sound effects, and a take-off on the national anthem.

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