com played a Aaron Copland's original Quiet City performed by Christopher Brellochs on their classical music station. Although I only heard the end of this piece, I decided to research the composer of this music. Aaron Copland was born November 14, 1900 to Sarah Mittenthal and Harris Copland. Copland received his musical interest from his family. Almost everyone, except his father, were musical beings. His mother even sang and played the piano. Because Aaron was so shy, it was second nature for him to take up his interest in music. At the tender age of six, Aaron began to play around the piano at home and at the age of eleven, Aaron Copland sister, Laurine,began teaching him how to play. It was also at this age, he created his first notated melody that he called Zonatello. From 1913-1917, Aaron began to study and take lessons from for Leopold Wolfsohn. Leopold focused his teaching on classical fare which lead to Aaron's first concert attendance and his initial public performance at a Wanamaker recital. After studying from Leopold, he began to study harmony and counterpoint with Rubin Goldmark. It was then that Aaron decided he wanted to become a composer.
In 1940, Copland composed an incidental piece of music that was later used for a play for Irwin Shaw. This play, called Quiet City, was about a troubled man who had gone insane after renouncing his dreams to pursue something that wasn't true to his identity. The play never made it to the stage and this work was never published. Aaron later turned this piece into an orchestral version. Aaron later used some of this music for another composition which was performed January 28, 1941 by conductor David Saidenberg and his Saidenberg Little Symphony. Although this piece was never published, Aaron used parts of Quiet City in other pieces that he composed.
Listening to this piece, I immediately heard strings in the background. A trumpet came in soon after and I began to hear the different textures of music.
On May 11, 1884, Martha Graham was born to parents George and Jenny graham. She is the oldest of three girls, and was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Her father was a very intelligent and wise man; he was a doctor. He taught Martha more about movement than anyone ever had, particularly that mov...
