Customer Reviews

The Copland Collection: Orchestral Works, 1948-1971

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The third of the Copland Collection from Sony is much like the other two: Wonderful playing, orchestration, recording, and booklet. This is my favorite of the three of the CD sets though. Music is very 'Copland' like. The Red Pony is from the movie is an excellent suite. Dance Panels is the least known of the 4 ballets by Copland. But just like Appalachian Spring and Billy the Kid, it is very Copland, very exciting, and very good. Unlike the other three you may find on the 2nd CD set of this series, this is the entire ballet not just the suites. Down A Country Lane is now one of my favorite Copland works. So soothing, it can really paint the picture of a beautiful country road on a spring day. Music for a great city is actually from a movie (booklet tells all). Each of the four movements describes the big city just as we all have known it. All the other works are nothing to look down upon either. Most works are conducted by Copland with the London Symphony (he really knocked them into shape). A couple were conducted by Bernstein which are still up to standard. Great CD collection! Buy all three.

SKYLINE is a fun track that's based on the premise of Big City Overload. And naturally it's immediately followed by the low-key introspective NIGHT THOUGHTS.

Consider Lenny Bernstein's main theme from his MASS. I'm talking about the tune that was done klezmer-style and chorale-style. When the chorale sings it, it contains a descending 4-note phrase. Followed by a descending 5-note phrase. Okay--now listen for a certain passage in NIGHT THOUGHTS that sounds similar to Bernstein's passage. The only basic difference is that both of Copland's phrases are 5-note phrases. And let me add that Copland's NIGHT THOUGHTS was written years before Bernstein's MASS.