Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring was a breakthrough for its time. The music resonated across America like few works of its day, and not surprisingly, won Copland the Pulitzer Prize a year after its premiere. Also on the program are Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, Op. 72, a continuation of his wildly popular earlier dances, which made him a household name overnight and helped pay the bills. Starting off the concert is a selection of American spirituals such as Were You There and Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, with baritone Jubilant Sykes. These program notes include music excerpts.
Masterworks 2 of the 23/24 Season
Performances: Oct. 21 & 22, 2023