The Choral Music of Aaron Copland
Celebrating the 100th Birthday of One of America's Premiere 20th Century Composers
Marie Stultz, Contributing EditorAaron Copland is best known for his orchestral music, ballets, chamber music, and film scores. As one of America's premiere 20th century composers, his music has enjoyed great popularity both in his lifetime and after his death in 1990. He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1900 to Jewish parents who had immigrated from Poland and Lithuania. He studied piano and composition while attending the Boys' High School in New York, the ideal city to be exposed to great music performance. After graduation, he managed to save enough money to study abroad. At the tender age of 20, he set off for Paris. Here he met his greatest musical influence, Nadia Boulanger, who in four brief years helped him establish his American compositional voice. He traveled and studied all over Europe, meeting such distinguished composers as Prokofiev and Milhaud, while cultivating the rhythmic textures of Stravinsky. On his return to America in 1924, he soon enjoyed the support of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's new conductor Serge Koussevitzky (who he had met in Paris), the MacDowell Colony, and the Guggenheim Foundation. With backing from his patron Alma Morgenthau Wertheim, Copland's success was quickly assured. During these early years, he listened to a great deal of American jazz and, like Vaughan Williams in England and Bela Bartok in Hungary, he collected American folksongs which he would use extensively as part of his compositional style.
Copland's original choral output, both sacred and secular, is limited to a few precious works. This includes some choral music from his great opera, The Tender Land. The remainder of his choral music lies in arrangements of solo pieces or folksongs he collected to assist him in establishing his national voice. Many of these choral pieces were adapted by other distinguished composers, most under his supervision or with his permission. Most of his music is published by Boosey & Hawkes; three pieces are available from ECS Publishing.Copland's Original Sacred Music
Four Motets for SATB voices a cappella were composed in the fall of 1921 while Copland was studying with Nadia Boulanger. They received their first performance in November of 1924 by the Paris-American-Gargenville Chorus. Boulanger wrote to the composer that "after daily rehearsals under Melville Smith the chorus has really done marvelously. Those motets sound in the voices in a stunning manner." They remained unpublished until Boosey and Hawkes released them in 1979. Help Us, O Lord (M-051-46018-2~$1.40), Thou, O Jehovah, Abideth Forever (M-051-46019-9~$1.60), Have Mercy on Us, O My Lord (M-051-46020-5~$1.25), Sing Ye Praises To Our King (M-051-46021-2~$1.75) are all fine examples of Copland's early compositional style. Mostly contrapuntal in nature, the pieces are filled with accidentals on flowing phrase shapes. Difficulty rating 4.
In The Beginning for SATB voices a cappella and mezzo soprano was written for the Harvard Symposium on Music Criticism in May of 1947. Based on texts from the opening verses of Genesis, this magnificent piece is constructed with rich, sonorous, homophonic harmonies in contrast to some simple sections of counterpoint. Changing meters, many accidentals, and wide ranges in the parts add to the dramatic setting of the text. The piece concludes with broad, spectacular harmonies as the choir sings divisi. The piece requires an accomplished soloist and chorus. This extended work is from Boosey, M-051-30140-9. Difficulty rating 4-5. $14.50
Copland's Original Secular Music
Canticle of Freedom is based on a text by John Barbour and was written in 1955 through a commission from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Choral Finale is the concluding section of the Canticle of Freedom for SATB chorus and orchestra. The entire piece takes 16 minutes to perform, but this finale may be sung alone with piano. First conducted at MIT by Klaus Liepemann in 1955, the piece was subsequently revised in 1967 for Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony. The full score is available from Boosey & Hawkes for $37.00, with a study score for $9.95. This one single movement (M-051-45059-6) sells for $2.90 and may be performed with piano.
Lark for four-part a cappella chorus (divisi) and baritone solo is set to a text by Genevieve Taggard. Written in 1938, the first performance was conducted by Robert Shaw in New York in 1943. This is a staggeringly beautiful piece. The surprising shifts in harmonies, the majestic ascending scales are so early Copland-esque. One of the few pieces that is totally original to Copland himself, the text painting in this wonderful piece is very special. Published by ECS (1794) in 1941, this piece should be apart of every major mixed choir repertoire. Difficulty rating 4. $2.00
Las Agachadas (The Shake-down Song) for solo group and 8-part mixed chorus a cappella is based on melody No. 202 in Kurt Schindler's collection: "Folk Music and Poetry of Spain and Portugal." The piece requires large forces that include a main choral body and a contrasting smaller solo group of about 3 to 4 voices on a part. Filled with guitar-like syllables and Latin rhythms, and set to a Spanish/English folksong, the piece is challenging but great fun to sing. Published by Boosey & Hawkes and part of a large group of choral music being re-issued as part of this Copland anniversary, M-051-30080-8 sells for $6.25. Difficulty rating 4-5.
Song of the Guerrillas for TTBB voices, baritone solo, and piano was written by Copland in 1943. Using lyrics by Ira Gershwin, this piece is taken from the film score The North Star, directed by Milestone and built off a story by Lillian Hellman. The poetry speaks to the bloodiness of war and the cry for men to fight for freedom. Boosey, M-051-41729-2. Difficulty rating 3. $1.20
Stomp Your Foot (M-051-45019-0) and The Promise of Living (M-051-45020-6) are both taken from Copland's opera The Tender Land. Composed for SATB chorus & piano 4 hands or orchestra, the first piece is a choral square dance and the second a song of Thanksgiving for SATBB voices. Written between 1952-54 in 3 Acts, the opera was first performed at Oberlin College. An orchestral suite was created in 1956. These two fine choral extractions are ideal examples of Copland's mature compositional style. Both are available in a new re-issue from Boosey & Hawkes for $3.25 each. They are a wonderful addition to the opera chorus repertoire. Difficulty rating 4. Stomp Your Foot is also available for men's voices, TTBB & piano 4 hands, M-051-45136-4. $3.50
An Immorality was originally written for soprano solo, SSA voices, and piano in 1925. ECS published an arrangement for SAB voices (3127) by Daniel Pinkham in 1985 with the cooperation of the composer. Dramatically set to a text taken from Lustra by Ezra Pound, the piano part contains fanfare-like passages and complex rhythms and requires an accomplished player. The extreme vocal tessituras, complex rhythms, and difficult intervalic relationships require a well-trained ensemble of singers. The baritone part could be sung by carefully trained altos. Difficulty rating 4. $2.50
The House on the Hill for SATB voices a cappella was originally written for SSAA voices by Copland in 1925. This edition from ECS (3136), adapted by Daniel Pinkham, was also done with the cooperation of the composer. The text by Edward Arlington Robinson is taken from Children of the Night. The harmonic texture is filled with dream-like intervals on elegant counterpoint sung mostly piano. The ascending and descending phrases with many accidentals are a challenge to sing. Difficulty rating 4. $2.50
An editorial note: According to Daniel Pinkham, the above two editions were done during the time Robert McWilliams was president of E.C. Schirmer. In 1985, Copland already suffered from Alzheimer's and Pinkham was relieved to get authority to prepare these editions from the estate even though Schirmer owned the copyright to both pieces. The original treble versions of both pieces have been returned to the estate and have recently been made available from Boosey & Hawkes as part of the Copland 100th anniversary. An Immorality for Soprano solo, SSA voices, and piano, M-051-30140-9 and The House on the Hill for SSAA a cappella, M-051-46590-3 are welcome new issues.
What Do We Plant? for SA voices & piano is set to a text by Henry Abbey. Originally written in 1934 for SSA voices, this simple piece works beautifully with the intermediate to advanced choir of trebles. It is ideal for public school or community chorus. First published in 1945 by Boosey & Hawkes (M-051-41639-4) it sells for $1.40. Difficulty rating 2.
Arrangements Of Copland's Music
Younger Generation was written by Copland for SATB voices in 1943. It is set to a text by Ira Gershwin. There are four arrangements of this piece by Frederic Fay Swift that were published by Boosey & Hawkes in 1944. SATB~M-051-41723-0~$2.50; SAB~M-051-45507-2~$2.10; SSA~M-051-41722-3~$1.75; SA~M-051-45506-5~$1.25
Old American Songs
Copland is well known for the American folksongs he adapted for use in his orchestral works; he also arranged them for solo voice and piano in two sets. All of these pieces have been arranged in a variety of choral voicings, and all use accompaniment reductions created by the composer. In addition, Boosey has recently issued both sets of solo songs in choral octavo editions for unison voices; these pieces are extremely effective on unison children's voices, particularly with the younger singer. These arrangements range in price from $1.25 - $2.75.
At the River, arr. R. Wilding White for SA, SSA, SATB, TTBB
Ching-A-Ring-Chaw, arr. Irving Fine for SSAA, SATB, TTBB
Golden Willow Tree, arr. Gregory Rose for SATB
I Bought Me a Cat, arr. Irving Fine for SATB, TBB; arr. Straker for SSA
Long Time Ago, arr. Irving Fine for SATB; arr. Straker for SSA
Simple Gifts, arr. David Brunner for SATB; arr. Fine for SA or TB
The Boatmen's Dance, arr. Irving Fine for SATB and Bass solo, TTBB and Baritone solo
The Dodger, arr. Irving Fine for TTBB and Baritone solo
The Little Horses, arr. David Brunner for SATB; arr. Wilding/White for SA, SSA, TTBB
Zion's Walls, arr. Koponen for SSAA, SATB, TTBBAlthough his choral output was limited, Copland's contributions to the literature are of high quality and worthy of being a part of any group's standard repertoire.
New Releases ~ Sacred SATB Voices ~ Sacred
Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs, by Richard DeLong, English text, ECS, 4905, SATB a cappella. Set to a text by Isaac Watts, this simple anthem can be used at Easter or for a general service. Written in April of 1988, this short joyful piece is filled with changing meters on homophonic harmonies. Difficulty rating 2. $1.25
Contristatus est Rex David (King David Covered His Head), by Richard Dering (1580-1630), Latin text, Oxford, 395367-6, SSATB & organ. Beautifully edited by Richard Lyne based on an MS found at Christ Church, Oxford. Programs notes and a translation of the text taken from 2 Samuel 18:33. It is filled with elegant counterpoint and powerful harmonies. Difficulty rating 4. $1.95
Create in Me, O God (Schaffe in mir, Gott), by Johannes Brahms (ca. 1860), English/German text, Warner, LG53042, SATBB a cappella. This short motet was written in Brahms' early period. It is the first movement of the second of his Two Motets published in 1864. It was edited by Robert Shaw in 1999 just before his death. It is the first Shaw edition to be published posthumously. The long phrase shapes on elegant counterpoint will be a challenge to keep in tune. Difficulty rating 4. $1.40
Go Before Us, O Lord, by Andrew Carter, English text, Oxford, 351154-1, SATB a cappella. Elegant harmonies on a powerful text taken from the Book of Common Prayer make this piece quite powerful. The homophonic passages are filled with wonderful harmonic surprises. The counterpoint between the parts adds to the power of this short anthem that lasts a little over 1-1/2 minutes. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40
God's Gonna Set This World on Fire, arr. Moses Hogan and Edwin B. Hogan, English text (dialect), Hal Leonard, 08740286, SATB a cappella. Hogan's arrangements are always fresh and require accomplished singers. Set homophonically, this piece requires real stylized singing. An understanding of the dialect and tone color is imperative to accomplish an artistic performance. Difficulty rating 3-4. $1.50
Teach Me, O Lord God (Deduc me, Domine), by Melchior Franck (1579-1639), Latin/English text, Warner, LG52993, SSATB a cappella. Set to a text from Psalm 86:11, this arrangement by Robert S. Hines is filled with stark harmonies on elegant counterpoint. This motet would be extremely effectively with either small or large forces sung in a room with a long reverberation time. Difficulty rating 4. $1.50
The Ballad of Meshullemeth, by C. Hubert H. Parry, English text, ECS, 5450, SATB & organ. Taken from the oratorio Judith, this original solo song was written by Parry in 1888. Arranged by Ronald Arnatt, the piece is based on a contralto solo with keyboard accompaniment published by Novello in 1906. The choral harmonies closely follow the accompaniment. Difficulty rating 3. $1.95
Two Anthems, by Richard Farrant, English text, Shawnee, MF2140, SATB a cappella. Call to Remembrance and Hide Not Thou Thy Face From Us is beautifully edited by David Bohn. The edition contains extensive performance suggestions and program notes. Careful explanations about the source leave the impression that this is a definitive edition that has been carefully researched. Difficulty rating 3. $1.60
All Voices ~ Sacred
New Series Editions
The following pieces were published recently and will be listed rather than reviewed. They are all of high quality and can be perused in the newsletter notebook at Spectrum. Single copies can also be ordered by offering the following information:From Alice Parker
And Sing Eternally: New England Hymnody, a cantata in four movements based on shape note hymns.
I. Creation-Zion's Hill~A Musical Concert, English text, Warner, LG53026, SATB, tenor solo, & keyboard. Difficulty rating 4. $2.50
II. Dunkinfield, English text, Warner, LG53027, SATB, tenor solo, & keyboard. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40
III. Friendship, Wallingford, Friendship, English text, Warner, LG53028, SATB, tenor solo, & keyboard. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40
IV. Mitcham-Bermondsey, English text, Warner, LG53029, SATB & keyboard, $1.95From John Rutter
The Cambridge Singers Hymns is a series of new hymn arrangements by John Rutter. The aim of the series is to present some of the finest traditional hymns in new, practical versions. All of this series is published by Hinshaw and has been recorded by the Cambridge Singers. The titles, voicing, and instrumentation are listed below.A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, HMC1798, SATB, congregation, organ or brass. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
All Things Bright and Beautiful, HMC1790, SA & harp or piano. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Amazing Grace, HMC1792, SATB (divisi) & harp or piano. Difficulty rating 4. $1.50
Be Thou My Vision, HMC1793, SATB & harp or piano. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation, HMC1796, SATB, congregation, organ or brass. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, HMC1831, SATB, congregation, organ or brass. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Glory to Thee, My God, This Night, HMC1800, SATB & organ. Difficulty rating 2. $1.10
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, HMC1801, SATB & organ. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending, HMC 1732, SATB, congregation, organ or brass choir. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, HMC1799, SATB & organ. Difficulty rating 2. $1.10
Morning Has Broken, HMC1791, SSA & harp or piano. Difficulty rating 3. $1.10
O God, Our Help in Ages Past, HMC1797, SATB, congregation, & organ or brass choir. Difficulty rating 2. $1.25
The Day Thou Gavest, HMC1803, SATB & organ. Difficulty rating 2. $1.10
The King of Love My Shepherd Is, HMC1794, SATB & harp or piano. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
We Plough the Fields, and Scatter, HMC1795, SATB & harp or piano. Difficulty rating 2. $1.25
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, HMC1802, SATB, congregation, & organ. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Treble Voices ~ Sacred
Ave Maria, by J.S. Bach/Gounod, Latin text, Boosey, M-051-47239-0, SSA & keyboard or harp. This war horse of the church repertoire is beautifully arranged by Rupert Lang. The piece can either be performed a cappella or with the accompaniment. Program notes and background on the composer are offered by editor Doreen Rao. Difficulty rating 4. $1.80Blake's Cradle Song, by Mark Sirett, English text, Warner, VG367, SSA with flute & oboe. Taken from "Songs of Innocence," this is one of three settings written for the Toronto Children's Chorus. The other two pieces are The Lamb and Piping Down the Valley's Wild. They are all three dedicated to Jean Ashworth Bartle and Ruth Watson Henderson. The pieces had their premiere in 1997. The oboe and flute parts are simply written and weave in and out of the voice parts. The counterpoint, dynamics, and tessitura of the voice parts require an accomplished choir. Difficulty rating 4. $1.75
Gloria in Excelsis, by Giacomo Antonio Perti (1661-1756), Latin text, Warner, LG52097, SA & keyboard. Edited by David Larson, this Italian Baroque duet will be great fun to sing. The mellismas are challenging, therefore the piece requires a fine children's choir. Written in the middle and lower tessitura of the voice, the piece will be great for building accurate singing in a difficult range for children "to sing on their air." Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
God be Merciful Unto Us, by Daniel Pinkham, English text, ECS, 5394, unison & organ. Set to Psalm 67, this is an excellent introduction to this fine contemporary composer's music. There are some challenging intervals, but the rhythms are quite straightforward. The accompaniment is often written independently of the voice, therefore it will develop the choir's musical accuracy. The piece was commissioned by the Association of Anglican Musicians. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song, by Daniel Pinkham, English text, ECS, 5395, unison & organ. Set to Psalm 98, this piece was also commissioned by the Association of Anglican Musicians. This joyful anthem should be great fun to sing. The metrical setting of the text is challenging but will help develop musical accuracy and well-articulated diction. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
SAB Voices ~ Sacred
Pié Jesu (Blessed Jesus), by Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842), Latin/English text, Warner, LG53036, SAB & keyboard. Arranged by Robert S. Hines, this is an effective adaptation of a piece originally written for SATB voices. The simple counterpoint and unison writing make it an easy piece for a small choir to perform. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40Come, Lord and Shepherd of the Flock, by G.F. Handel, English text, Warner, LG53006, SAB & keyboard. Arranged to a paraphrased English text by Walter Ehret, this piece is adapted from the oratorio Judas Maccabeus. Ideal for the accomplished choir with small forces, the counterpoint holds some typical Handelian challenges. Difficulty rating 3-4. $1.40
Men's Voices ~ SacredDir, Seele des Weltalls, by W.A. Mozart, German text, Breitkopf, 8667, TTB, tenor solo, & orchestra. This fine extended work of about 10 minutes in length has only survived in fragmentary form. The text was written by Lorenz Leopold Haschka (1749-1827) The text suggests that this piece was written for a Masonic occasion of which Mozart was a member. A complete explanation about the publication is offered in the preface by editor Franz Beyer. Difficulty rating 4. $9.10
O Gracious Power, by Alice Parker, English text, Warner, LG53032, TTBB a cappella. Written for the Morehouse Glee Club, this homophonic work contains shifting meters. Quiet, powerful chords dominate the harmonic structure. The piece is set to a text by Oliver Wendell Holmes. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40
New Releases ~ Secular SATB Voices ~ Secular
Make Our Garden Grow, by Leonard Bernstein, English text, Boosey, M-051-46222-3, SATB & piano. Taken from Bernstein's Candide, this choral arrangement by Robert Page is set to lyrics by Richard Wilbur. Some intricate rhythms, changing meters, and divisi in all the parts make this piece a real challenge. The accompaniment is written independently of the voice parts, with the a cappella sections in sharp contrast in dynamic and feeling. Difficulty rating 4. $2.10
Ngam Sang Duan (Shining Moon), arr. Steven Sametz, Thai text, Oxford, 386312-X, SATB a cappella & wind chimes. This Northern Thai folksong is set with straightforward harmonies and rhythms. The edition includes a pronunciation guide and translation of the Thai text. Difficulty rating 3. $1.75
Treble Voices~SecularA Mexican Lullaby (Duermete Niño lindo), arr. Michael Neaum, Spanish/English text, Oxford, 342643-9, SA (divisi), soprano solo, & piano. This gentle lullaby is sensitively set over an arpeggiated piano part. The piece uses a combination of Spanish and English words by John Neaum. The soprano soloist needs a pure gentle voice quality in the middle tessitura of the voice. Difficulty rating 3. $1.75
Canadian Boat Song, arr. Mark Sirett, English text, Warner, VG369, SSA & piano. A French Canadian boat song, this beautiful melody is set to a text by Thomas Moore (1779-1852). The poem is filled with wonderful opportunities for text painting. Edited by Jean Ashworth Bartle, the lush harmonies and florid accompaniment make this a very effective piece. Difficulty rating 3. $1.75
Canzonette a tre, by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Italian text, Treble Clef, TC-180, SSA a cappella. Beautifully edited by Joan Yakkey, these four wonderful canzonets are taken from Canzonette a tre voici...libro primo, first published in Venice in 1584. Derived from the popular Villanella, which was entertainment music for a small group of musicians, the Canzonet is strophic in form. Extensive program notes, editorial comments, and pronunciation guide are included in this fine edition. Difficulty rating 3. $2.10
Indian Love Song, arr. Michael Neaum, English text, Oxford, 342641-2, SA, SS solo, & piano or harp. Filled with haunting intervals and picturesque text painting, this piece has sharp contrasts between the choir and two soloists. The source of this colorful love song is the Dakota and Ojibway Tribes. The piano accompaniment is set in fluid contrast to the elegant voice parts. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Three Seas, by Alice Parker (b. 1925), English text, Treble Clef, TC-181, SSA & piano or 2 flutes, bassoon, and harp. Set to texts by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), these three movements (There is a solitude of space, As if the Sea should part, & A soft Sea washed around the House) are filled with stark, glistening harmonies over at times a sparse accompaniment. Filled with minor seconds and other complex harmonies, these pieces will absolutely glisten on treble voices. They require an accomplished treble choir of either children or women. Difficulty rating 4. $2.10
Three Celtic Folk Songs, arr. Wayland Rogers, English text, Boosey, A Fairy's Love Song ( M-051-47209-3), Gartan Mother's Lullaby (M-051-47210-9), The Heather Glen (M-051-47211-6), SA & piano or woodwind quintet. Filled with references to creatures of the supernatural world, these songs keep fairies alive through old Celtic legends and folklore. They are uniquely set, filled with pentatonic scales and harmonies that sound like bagpipes. An explanation of the text and performance suggestions accompany these editions by Doreen Rao. Difficulty rating 3. $1.80-$1.40-$1.80
Two Northumbrian Folk-songs (Maa Bonny Lad & The Keel Row), arr. Michael Neaum, English text, Oxford, 342640-4, SSA & piano. Filled with Northumbrian dialect, these two arrangements were written for Ann Irons and Cantamus Training Choir in 1997. In typical Neaum style, these pieces are sensitively set. Difficulty rating 3. $1.75
Mens Voices ~ Secular
Roll On, Majestic Ocean, by George Root, English text, National, NMP305, TTBB a cappella. Taken from "Pilgrim Fathers" this piece would work well with solo quartet or men's chorus. It was published in a collection of part songs, glees, opera, and sacred choruses entitled "The Chorus Castle." Typical of Root's style, the piece is beautifully crafted with the harmonic writing expressive and typical of the time. The piece is edited by Robert L. Harris. Difficulty rating 3. $1.20
Four German Folk Songs, arr. Dale Grotenhuis, German/English text, National, NMP297, TTBB & two pianos. These popular folksongs are beautifully set. Included in the collection are Du, Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen, Holla Hi, Holla Ho!, The Woodlands Sleep, & The Foot Traveler. The last movement is a cappella and all the pieces use a mixture of English and German. Difficulty rating 3. $1.35