Hoe-down!

One of my favorite commentators just happens to also be a classical music critic and recently penned a piece recommending where a newcomer to the classical world should begin.  Being such a one myself, I was a bit overwhelmed by the enormous number of his suggestions, but he caught the attention of my nationalistic side with his reference to Americans:

If you’re an American, you’d better know all of Gershwin — and maybe even if you’re not: the piano preludes; Rhapsody in Blue; the Concerto in F; An American in Paris; Porgy and Bess (certainly excerpts). Did your mother ever sing to you “Summertime”? Keeping to the home front, Copland, a Brooklyn Jew, gave us the sound of the American West in Rodeo. He gave us the sound of pastoral America in Appalachian Spring. Try a couple of songs, too — maybe “Heart, we will forget him,” from the Dickinson Songs.

Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” has been a favorite of mine ever since I heard it in the background of the video that plays in a continual loop in the museum beneath the Lincoln Memorial (that video is one of the best things on the Mall, in my ever-so-humble opinion, and those who gripe that it portrays too many leftwing causes can go jump in a lake – or reflecting pool – but anyway…).  Long story short, listening to clips on YouTube couldn’t quite cut it, so I got meself a CD of Copland music.  Good stuff.  Maybe I’ll try Gershwin next – already know a lot of his stuff from musicals.