Connotations For Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Connotations For Orchestra or sometimes simply Connotations is a piece for orchestra by Aaron Copland
. The piece was commissioned by Leonard Bernstein
in 1962 to commemorate the opening of Philharmonic Hall, now Avery Fisher Hall
at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
in New York City
, United States. This piece marks a departure from Copland's populist period that began with El Salón México
in 1936 and includes the works he is most famous for such as Appalachian Spring
, Lincoln Portrait
and Rodeo
. It represents a return to his period of composition that started following his return from Europe in 1924 after studying under Nadia Boulanger
and continuing until the Great Depression
.
The piece is dodecaphonic (a style of composition which is among the first introduced, and certainly most well known, forms of musical Serialism
).
As serial and serial-inspired music was considered more academically viable than music utilizing common practice tonality (especially in Europe), some contemporary critics felt that Copland was trying to retain his place at the apex of the American classical music scene by conforming to "academic standards." As Copland had been one of the first American composers to import the style from Europe—in the mid twenties—these critics may have overlooked the possibility that his "populist period" may have represented the more jarring deviation in his compositional style.
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
. The piece was commissioned by Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
in 1962 to commemorate the opening of Philharmonic Hall, now Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States. This piece marks a departure from Copland's populist period that began with El Salón México
El Salón México
El Salón México is a symphonic composition in one movement by Aaron Copland, which uses Mexican folk music extensively.-Analysis and history:...
in 1936 and includes the works he is most famous for such as Appalachian Spring
Appalachian Spring
Appalachian Spring is a modern score composed by Aaron Copland that premiered in 1944 and has achieved widespread and enduring popularity as an orchestral suite...
, Lincoln Portrait
Lincoln Portrait
Lincoln Portrait is a classical orchestral work written by the American composer Aaron Copland. The work involves a full orchestra, with particular emphasis on the brass section at climactic moments. The work is narrated with the reading of excerpts of Abraham Lincoln's great documents, including...
and Rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
. It represents a return to his period of composition that started following his return from Europe in 1924 after studying under Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
and continuing until the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
The piece is dodecaphonic (a style of composition which is among the first introduced, and certainly most well known, forms of musical Serialism
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
).
As serial and serial-inspired music was considered more academically viable than music utilizing common practice tonality (especially in Europe), some contemporary critics felt that Copland was trying to retain his place at the apex of the American classical music scene by conforming to "academic standards." As Copland had been one of the first American composers to import the style from Europe—in the mid twenties—these critics may have overlooked the possibility that his "populist period" may have represented the more jarring deviation in his compositional style.
External links
- Essay by music critic Kyle Gann http://musicmavericks.publicradio.org/features/essay_gann03.html
- Brief Description of Connotations http://www.americansymphony.org/dialogues_extensions/92_93season/3rd_concert/copland.cfm