Thy Song Expands My Spirit
(A Tribute To Aaron Copland On His 80th Birthday) for Piano Solo
by Samuel Adler
Chamber Music - Sheet Music

Chamber Music Piano

SKU: PR.110406370

(A Tribute To Aaron Copland On His 80th Birthday) for Piano Solo. Composed by Samuel Adler. Classical. Solo part. With Standard notation. Duration 3:30. Theodore Presser Company #110-40637. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.110406370).

UPC: 680160001156.

A short, slow, and dense section introduces a bright and witty birthday tribute to Aaron Copland, in Adler's personal modern style. 3 1/2 min. For college, conservatory, professional. Difficult.
In 1980, for the celebration of Aaron Copland’s 80th birthday, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. asked Claudia Stevens to perform a series of concerts featuring all the piano music of Aaron Copland.  She thought it would be interesting to intersperse Copland’s pieces with short works, especially written for the occasion, by some of his friends and former students.  I was delighted that she asked me to contribute to this project and I composed this short tribute to Copland.  Of all of my teachers, Copland was the most influential and the man who changed my musical horizons more than anyone else.  Therefore, when contemplating this piece, Walt Whitman’s line, “Thy Song Expands My Spirit” came to mind and I felt it an appropriate title for this short work dedicated to the master.  The piece itself is in two sections: a slow introduction based on the famous opening chord of “Appalachian Spring” which is followed by a fast scherzo in a modified rondo form.  This section has a recurring “energy” rather than a returning theme.  The vigorous energy is interrupted by folksong-like tunes but this second part of the work never loses its happy and celebratory spirit.—Samuel Adler .