Aaron Copland

Part I of Essay
was the embodiment of what a composer can hope to become. Copland was very much in touch not only with himself and his feelings, but with the audience he intended to reach. Very few composers have a concrete idea of what "types" of people they wish their music to reach. Co ....

Part II of Essay
.... creating music that people other than musicians could appreciate. It was upon his return to America in 1924 that he decided that he would write ". . .truly American music." He traveled throughout America, getting a taste of what the "common man" was listening to. During these travels he strayed into Mexico, and wrote the highly successful El Salon Mexico. A quote from the fall of 1932 sums up his intentions in writing this piece: "Any composer who goes outside his native land wants to return bearing musical souvenirs." This is exactly what ....