Aaron Copland is perhaps the quintessential American composer whose works of the 1930s and '40s convey an open-air quality that captures in sound a bright and vast American vista.
'Appalachian Spring,' the Pulitzer Prize winner for music in 1945, is one of the glories of American ballet. Originally written for 13 instruments, the recording here is for full orchestra. Alternately boisterous and solemn, this work was an instant hit and has remained so since its premier in 1944. 'Billy the Kid' comes from 1938 and is one of Copland's most dynamic scores in his American style. Utilizing old Western and country melodies (but in a very deceptive fashion), this work depicts the life of William Bonney (a.k.a. Billy the Kid) who terrorized the West for two decades after the Civil War. 'Rodeo,' a score dating from 1942, is a rather uncomplicated ballet (it consists of nothing more than sequences displaying the joys of roping and riding); it has an immediacy that has made it a favorite since its premiere.
BMG has done a marvelous job of re-mastering these classic recordings (and exemplary performances). The result is an incredibly sumptuous sound, and an essential CD that showcases Copland's finest woks of Americana.