Aaron Copland

Copland's Work

• Was an American composer
• composition teacher
• Writer

Personal life of a musician

• Born Brooklyn, NY 
• Raised into a conservative Jewish family
• youngest of 4 other siblings
• Moved to U.S. from Russia
• Family lived above Copeland's shop

Birth of a musician

• Copland's father had no musical interest
• Mother gave piano lessons and sang
• Oldest brother was most musically talented
• Laurine (sister) helped pursue his interest and education in music  
• Age of 15 decided to become a composer

Education

• from 1917-1921 
• His father wanted him to go to college
• His mother wanted him to go to Paris
•  went to Fontainebleau School of Music 

HIs Work

• ambiguous beginnings 
• ambiguous endings
• rapid key changes
• Jazz-like elements 

Popular work

• The Cat and the Mouse (1920)
• El Salon Mexico (1932-1936)
• Fanfare for the Common Man (1942)
• A Lincoln Portrait (1942)
• Composed for the musical "Rodeo" (1942)

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