A vision for American harmony EP 26: Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland

[@ClassicsExplained]

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[@meganlewis2377]

Is Barber of Seville, Rigoletto, Tosca, Norma and Bartered Bride next?

[@alex9920ro]

@@meganlewis2377 yes! Pl ease do The Barber of Seville next 🥰

[@clarinetgaming1708]

Oh this is perfect timing, because in Appalachia Simple Gifts is kinda like a Thanksgiving song

[@joemack10]

I always believed and still do that this is a song for giving thanks! Simple Gifts is a Americana!

[@joemack10]

I love this! I was fortunate to meet Mr. Copland in 84 at his music summer camp in upstate NY ! I was on a scholarship for Double Bass! We performed for him on his lawn he came outside He conducted the Rodeo! I'll never forget this moment! He's been one of my favorite Composer's! 😍 🙏🏽🤓🎶🎼😎⚘️⚘️

[@jswords1977]

I love these videos so much!!! I always learn something new. Please never stop making them! 🙏

[@sydka9080]

We needed this ❤️

[@baritone_vocalist]

He took a shaker song and made it epic!

[@orffrocks5667]

Perfect timing for the times.

[@coopaloopmex]

I have always loved this theme. It showed at my uncle's funeral in "Lord of the Dance" the very first time I encountered death, and it has entranced me ever since my young years.

[@themuffinman4661]

literally playing this in concert today

[@alex9920ro]

Can you please make episodes about Rossini's "The Barber Of Seville" and Weber's "Der Freischutz"? I would be so happy, I am waiting for those operas to be presented for so long.

[@AnanasFruit-bk6rj]

Rossini is very cool

[@alex9920ro]

@AnanasFruit-bk6rj I agree, his music is just awesome! My favourite opera composer!

[@bryannguyen8440]

Copland lived until 90 years old. Which is quite impressive.

[@craigbrush5784]

Brilliant as always, you guys are amazing.

[@Garryzilla]

You know I didn’t know this was a ballet and I also didn’t know Billy the kid was also a ballet which is crazy to think that’s a thing and it is but nice thanksgiving special

[@orffrocks5667]

Clever, coy, complete. Bravo!

[@Miriam-in1fp]

Just in time for Thanksgiving! I love it. The sardine musicians had me dying.

[@EnlightenedByKnowledge]

Hey, honey! Wake up! A new Classics Explained video just dropped!

[@butteredtoaster7916]

19 seconds ago is crazy

[@GiovonniColeman]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@joemack10]

Thanks!

[@annekeener4119]

In particular, the war referenced in Appalachian Spring is believed to be the American Civil War, one a lot of young American men never came back from. It’s fairly generalized enough to be recognizable by different generations, but that is the theory of which war it was supposed to be.

[@P0L1LL3-vmm]

YAYY NEW VIDEOO :D

[@nicoville20]

This is a wonderful piece and a great ballet. If you’re still taking suggestions, may I suggest John Philip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever, or Percy Grainger’s Children’s March? Perhaps tackle the works of Gilbert and Sullivan?

[@lisys511]

Percy graingers Lincolnshire posy will be cool too

[@peterdavies2960]

Next do Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot!

[@sketbeast2168]

yesssss

[@Rgoid]

Excellent work! Next, how about Les Danaiades by Antonio Salieri? I mean, Salieri deserves the Classics Explained treatment to vindicate his good name after his treatment in “Amadeus”.

[@francoisrossignol7961]

I love these so much!

[@DDlambchop43]

I tried playing simple gifts as a solo(Bb clarinet), but I could never hit the high notes without squeaking or gasping for air

[@AllegroAssai144-q4z]

Fantastic video as always! Can do you do a Biography-style video about Chopin or Liszt?

[@ipsumloren2593]

Can you PLEASE do an episode about Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos?

[@stannieholt8766]

Great episode, *except* for one big visual error: The Preacher is illustrated as a Catholic priest! Considering the level of anti-Catholic prejudice in many parts of 19th-century America, that’s like mixing up the uniforms of Confederate vs. Union soldiers when talking about the Civil War. The full-length black cassock, sash, little cape, pectoral cross, and round-topped hat are all parts of a Catholic priest’s daywear. (More typical in the 19th century; American priests nowadays often just wear a black shirt with clerical collar, black slacks, and cross.) The Preacher in the 1944 premiere was costumed in a brown frock coat that flared out at the waist with a regular collared shirt and string tie underneath, and a flat-topped, wide-brimmed hat… secular menswear of about 1840-60. This reflects that evangelical Protestant ministers typically wear a suit or period equivalent, rejecting vestments and other specifically “religious” garb.

[@DDlambchop43]

oh, I just noticed this was a performance from the SF Symphony! Which means MTT was prolly on the piano; nice choice!

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

I would like you to do something very different and very challenging, namely "Nymphs" by Vassily Kalinnikov, from 1889, a piece that Sibelius copied and revised into "Finlandia" a decade later.

[@trine5044]

You should do an episode about Mahler. He is very underrated.

[@betamax6080]

he's the greatest composer of all time in my opinion

[@SOBIESKI_freedom]

I never knew Copland was gay. The things we learn!!

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

Or the tragedy of "Valsis Melanholiskais" by Latvian composer Emīls Dārziņš, who was accused of plagiarism (Sibelius actually supported the plagiarism claims against Dārziņš), destroyed his orchestral works, and soon after, fell under a train.

[@ryanwilk1642]

Great job as always! I have some more possible episode ideas: Haydn’s The Creation Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos Bartok’s The Miraculous Mandarin Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony Smetana’s The Moldau Ives’s Holidays Symphony You could maybe even try Liszt’s Faust Symphony. That would be cool.

[@alex9920ro]

Why The Creation? Haydn has composed much greater and much more iconic works than that one...

[@ryanwilk1642]

@ Yeah, but it’s surely one of his greatest masterpieces. Try to do an entire video on the Surpise Symphony, for instance

[@alex9920ro]

@@ryanwilk1642 I just dont like the theme of that oratorio. Its an ancient myth that is being pushed as the truth explaining origins of the Universe, planet, and mankind, even in today's society. As a person with views about the world based on science who's living in an overreligious country in Eastern Europe where I find no one who thinks like me, anything related to creationism really depresses me, regardless of how epic and wonderful would sound.

[@TristanMA]

I have been wondering if you would do a presentation on this composition. As I have commented on the teaser, this work evokes strong sentiments about America. Not long after its premiere, Appalachian Spring became associated with Thanksgiving, something that neither Aaron Copeland or Martha Graham had planned or intended it for. A number of critics have argued that by depicting a seemingly idyllic picture of pioneer life, "Appalachian Spring" inadvertently contributes to a sanitized narrative of American history, overlooking the violent dispossession of Native lands that often accompanied westward expansion. My reason for criticizing Copland’s Appalachian Spring is that it promotes a whitewashed view of American history, neglecting the genocide of native peoples, theft of their lands, and disruption of their culture. Since the 1970s, Natives have held a National Day of Mourning protest, instead of celebrating the traditional view of Thanksgiving. While Copland's music itself did not directly contribute to the narrative of Thanksgiving or the genocide of Native Americans, the interpretation of "Appalachian Spring," can be seen as inadvertently reinforcing a romanticized view of early American settler life that minimizes the harsh realities of colonization. The work does, indeed evoke an American spirit in a simplified, accessible style. Perhaps it does so almost too well and thus can be heard by others too in the way I hear it. I appreciate your presentations and look forward to each of them - they are very well done. I hope you will follow up with a work that celebrates Christmas.

[@TristanMA]

Lord of the Dance, composed by Sydney Carter in 1963, focused on Jesus' life and mission, using the Shaker tune- Simple Gifts, but also borrowing from the English Christmas carol- Tommarrow Shall be My Dancing Day.

[@haol3222]

Could you make a video on Bruckner and his struggles?

[@Altmango69]

Asking for Shostakovich symphony 5 analysis x2

[@nebulaseye9216]

Can you do Gustav Mahler symphony no 2 Please 🥺❤️

[@khyrand]

have there always been Jawas in your videos??

[@stevenj9970]

Thank you, Aaron...........I always feel pride when playing your music!! Gay Jew Musician here too.........

[@dkdk4270]

9:25 what happened to a star of david being the standard symbol of Judaism?

[@jabeavers]

I know that photo at the end is iconic, but if you know the backstory, it becomes tainted. I'd suggest avoiding it in the future.