BaL 28.12.24 - Copland: Rodeo

[Pulcinella]

3.00pm
Building a Library
Conductor Ben Gernon picks his personal favourite recording of Aaron Copland's vibrant, Western-inspired ballet score Rodeo

Presto listing here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/221436--copland-rodeo/browse

Presto listing of the Four Dance Episodes here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/18022--copland-rodeo-four-dance-episodes/browse

For all its popularity, this has yet to appear on a BBC MM CD.

Recommended version
San Francisco Symphony
Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor)
RCA 82876658402

[smittims]

I don't find Rodeo as popular, or not so often played, as it used to be. The best known movement 'Hoe-down' contains oneof those curious moments when an orchestra sounds like a human voice. In the bar of two emphatic chords , which is a featureif the movement, I seem to hear someone shout 'hey down!' . Does anyone else hear this?

I can't resist mentioning another instance. Towards the end of Poulenc's organ concerto, in the Marcel duPre/ Pretre recording, there's a slow, quiet, lamenting melody featuring a viola or cello solo accompanied by soft stops on the organ. That always sounds to me as if an alto voice is singing along. .

[oliver sudden]

This is certainly worth hearing in the context of Rodeo. The extent to which the Hoedown was, shall we say, inspired by a particular model was unknown to me until relatively recently!

https://youtu.be/nMEfyacuRnU?feature=shared

[Pulcinella]

This is an instance of the Presto listing not being that helpful, given extracts in compilations and arrangements.
And sometimes there are three, and other times four dances.
A quick skim through surprised me in that I didn't spot Copland's own recording or Bernstein's listed.

On the shelves here:

NYPO/Bernstein (Four dance episodes)
LSO/Copland (Four dance episodes)
Cleveland Pops Orchestra/Lane (Three dance episodes)
SFSO/MTT (Four dance episodes)

Looks like I have to get acquainted with the full version.

[Petrushka]

I've got the LSO/Copland, NYPO/Bernstein and SFSO/ MTT and I'd suggest that Ben Gernon's task is a fairly simple one between these three. None of them disappoint and if you only have Bernstein that should be enough.

Incidentally, I'm sure that there was a BBCSO/Slatkin Copland disc with BBC MM that included Rodeo. I'll dig it out and check.

[Pulcinella]

I've got the LSO/Copland, NYPO/Bernstein and SFSO/ MTT and I'd suggest that Ben Gernon's task is a fairly simple one between these three. None of them disappoint and if you only have Bernstein that should be enough.

Incidentally, I'm sure that there was a BBCSO/Slatkin Copland disc with BBC MM that included Rodeo. I'll dig it out and check.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Copland-Billy-Kid-Leonard-Slatkin/dp/B00BBF530K

Volume 9, Number 2: Billy the Kid, Danzón Cubano, El Salón Mexico, and Organ Symphony, but not Rodeo.

[Petrushka]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Copland-Billy-Kid-Leonard-Slatkin/dp/B00BBF530K

Volume 9, Number 2: Billy the Kid, Danzón Cubano, El Salón Mexico, and Organ Symphony, but not Rodeo.

Yes, that was the one I had in mind. I moved over some of the 'keeper' BBC MM discs into my main collection and that was one of them. I was looking in the overflow pile upstairs!

[richardfinegold]

I don't find Rodeo as popular, or not so often played, as it used to be. The best known movement 'Hoe-down' contains oneof those curious moments when an orchestra sounds like a human voice. In the bar of two emphatic chords , which is a featureif the movement, I seem to hear someone shout 'hey down!' . Does anyone else hear this?
.

No I do not and I have many recordings. My favorite has always been Bernstein but I also have Dorati (2), Copland, Slatkin, MTT and a few others

[Pulcinella]

I had overlooked a separate entry on the Presto site for the Four Dance Episodes, now remedied in the OP.

A quick skim through surprised me in that I didn't spot Copland's own recording or Bernstein's listed.

That will be why I hadn't spotted those recordings, amongst lots of others!

[Darloboy]

Last covered by BaL in May 2000 when Chris de Souza chose Seattle SO/Schwarz as first choice for the Four Dance Episodes with Baltimore/Zinman highly recommended as the only complete version of the ballet available at the time

[mikealdren]

Like others I also have the NYPO/Bernstein and I see no reason to look further.

[Barbirollians]

Me too . Lenny only here .

[richardfinegold]

The Four Dance Episodes are enough for me. The complete ballet just adds some connective tissues

[soileduk]

If anyone is considering the Leonard Slatkin Detroit SO recording of the complete Rodeo on Naxos 8.559758 be aware that since I purchased my copy on that very record number the latest version, still using the 8.559758 number, only has the dance episodes. Everyone, Naxos Presto Amazon et al show the original cover with a horse riding cowgirl but if you click to buy, on Naxos and Amazon and Musicweb at least, you will be directed to the ‘dance episodes’ version with the ‘photo of the Symphony Hall on the cover. I don’t know why, the discs are identical (I think) except for the omission of Ranch house party.

[richardfinegold]

If anyone is considering the Leonard Slatkin Detroit SO recording of the complete Rodeo on Naxos 8.559758 be aware that since I purchased my copy on that very record number the latest version, still using the 8.559758 number, only has the dance episodes. Everyone, Naxos Presto Amazon et al show the original cover with a horse riding cowgirl but if you click to buy, on Naxos and Amazon and Musicweb at least, you will be directed to the ‘dance episodes’ version with the ‘photo of the Symphony Hall on the cover. I don’t know why, the discs are identical (I think) except for the omission of Ranch house party.

I have that on BluRay audio and it’s the complete ballet. As mentioned above I can live without the extra material, but that is curious