BaL 29.03.14 - Copland's Appalachian Spring

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am Building a Library
Following last week's first-ever live Building a Library, Mark Lowther joins Andrew live to discuss Copland's Appalachian Spring, and makes a personal recommendation.
Available versions:

LAPO, Leonard Bernstein
NYPO, Leonard Bernstein
English SO, William Boughton
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Dirk Brosse (download)
BPO, Sergiu Celibadache
Pacific SO, Keith Clark
Boston SO, Aaron Copland
LSO, Aaron Copland
Orchestra of the Swan, David Curtis
St Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies
Detroit SO, Antal Dorati
LSO, Antal Dorati
RPO, Philip Ellis
Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Paul Gambill
(arr. Patterson) University of Houston Wind Ensemble, Eddie Green (download)
Slovak Radio SO, Stephen Gunzenhauser
The Knights, Eric Jacobson
Grant Park Orchestra, Carlos Kalmar
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel
Atlanta SO, Louis Lane
LAPO, Zubin Mehta
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy
Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue
Susan Palma, David Singer, Frank Morelli, Wu Han, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
CBSO, Sir Simon Rattle
Harmonie Ensemble, Stephen Richman (original version)
St Louis SO, Leonard Slatkin
Atlanta SO, Robert Spano
San Francisco SO, Michael Tilson Thomas

[makropulos]

A couple of additions:
Columbia Chamber Ensemble, Copland (Sony) - original version, with Copland rehearsing (on Vol. 1 of A Copland Celebration)
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Hugh Wolff (Teldec) - original version.
DVD of the complete ballet with Martha Graham and Erick Hawkins (filmed in 1958)
DVD of the original version with members of the San Francisco SO, Tilson Thomas as part of "Keeping Score: Copland and the American Sound" (different from the RCA CD which is for full orchestra)
and an oddity of historical interest: Piano version rec. 1944 probably played by Copland on Pearl 9279

[rauschwerk]

Some clarification will be needed by the reviewers. There is the published orchestral score (known as the Suite) and a manuscript from 1954 (done by Copland at Ormandy's request and unpublished by 1999) which is the orchestral version of the complete ballet. MTT's recording is of the latter and is the most beautiful performance of this music that I have ever heard.

[BBMmk2]

One of my favourite Copland's score. I am interested in obtaining another recording.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I can't think of an American musical work that's as fine as this one. A worthy subject for BaL.

[Tony Halstead]

I can't think of an American musical work that's as fine as this one. A worthy subject for BaL.

I played on the Aaron Copland/ LSO recording that must have been done in the early 1970s ( in EMI Abbey Road Studio No 1) .
I remember that we did three complete 'takes' of the piece. On the last / 3rd one I 'split' 2 notes ( high C# as an accompaniment to the lovely 'simple gifts' Shaker tune)... guess what... the record producer ( the legendary Paul Myers maybe?) in the final 'mix' must have ignored the horn splits and authorised that 'take' to go on the 'end product'.

I do have the CD of that recording and although I hardly ever listen to it ( although I love the piece) I will always 'cringe' when listening, in anticipation of my inept contribution - although in truth the 'problem' lasts for about 2 seconds!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

You'll have us all listening to the recording now to find the bit you're referring to.

I have the RCA Copland recording. That has a cringeworthy bit too - and I know how difficult it is - particularly scary oboe solo.

[richardfinegold]

I can't think of an American musical work that's as fine as this one. A worthy subject for BaL.

I've heard many versions of this and own a few, but the Bernstein/NY Phil recording is as definitives as it gets.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I can't think of an American musical work that's as fine as this one. A worthy subject for BaL.

Hmmm. It's my favourite of Copland's scores, but I have the Bernstein and Copland's own recordings of the orchestral version, so I'd like to hear which versions of the Chamber original take my fancy.

But there's a lot of other "American musical works" that I find finer.

[mikealdren]

I can't think of an American musical work that's as fine as this one. A worthy subject for BaL.

I agree but I think I have heard it on BaL before in years gone by and it's frustrating that works do come round again albeit many years later. I wonder how they choose, is it the reviewers or the programme makers preferences/hobby horses and is there any logic?

Mike

[Black Swan]

My favorite Copland work.

I have:

Columbia Chamber Ensemble, Copland (Sony) - original version, with Copland rehearsing (on Vol. 1 of A Copland Celebration)
Atlanta Sinfoinietta, Andrew Schenck (not on EA's list)
LSO, Aaron Copland
San Francisco SO, Michael Tilson Thomas

I think my favorite is the original version for 13 Instruments with Copland Conducting.

[Beef Oven!]

CD review should be on earlier, 8.30 maybe. Hanging around, wasting the morning

[Don Petter]

Sounds as if they are holding the discussion in a large empty water tank.

[mikealdren]

Sounds as if they are holding the discussion in a large empty water tank.

and lots of background noise but the real issue for me is how slow, ponderous and stilted the discussion is. I... really.... must....speak.....slowly....for ....the....microphone. You simply get so much more from the usual presentation format.

Mike

[BBMmk2]

and lots of background noise but the real issue for me is how slow, ponderous and stilted the discussion is. I... really.... must....speak.....slowly....for ....the....microphone. You simply get so much more from the usual presentation format.

Mike

Agreed!