Copland: Greatest Hits

Aaron Copland (Composer), Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), Aaron Copland (Conductor), Arthur Fiedler (Conductor), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Boston Pops Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra
• Conductor: Eugene Ormandy, Aaron Copland, Arthur Fiedler
• Composer: Aaron Copland
• Audio CD (September 6, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003F5S
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,550 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music > Marches
  • #18 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > English
  • #39 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Historical Periods > Modern & 20th Century

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Collection of Aaron Copland, December 20, 2005

By 

gobirds2 (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Copland: Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

Aaron Copland is for me one of three of America's greatest composers of the 20th Century. Bernard Herrmann and Jerome Moross are the other two. Aaron Copland would have been 100 years old on November 14, 2000. In reflection I turn back to my first Copland album, "Copland's Greatest Hits." I was familiar as most people are with "Hoe Down" and that was the springboard for me. What attracted me was that distinctive "American" sound and "American" quality of the piece. This "American" sound is very present in Jerome Moross' score for the epic Western film, "The Big Country." One can also find similar influences in Bernard Herrmann's score for "The Kentuckian" and very much like Copland, Herrmann researched and interpolated regional folk songs and integrated them into his own unique style. Because I always liked film scores and also very much liked Copland's "Hoe Down" I always thought there had to be some connection with the musical approach. When I got this album and listened to "Appalachian Spring" for the first time I knew that I had discovered pure "Americana" and I have found that sound replicated in so many films. If you listen to the scores for "The Natural" or "Field of Dreams" or even recently to "Saving Private Ryan" this sound is present. This is a tribute to Copland and American music. Copland reinvented American music by giving it his unique structure. Copland's music is so simply melodic yet richly textured that it has an inherent sophistication that defines our nation. This is my favorite Copland album. That may be sentimental, but it helped me try to define a sound that I personally found moving and uplifting. I highly recommend this album of collected recordings. The recording of "Appalachian Spring" on this CD performed by the New York Philharmonic and conducted by Leonard Bernstein is my favorite recording of this piece to date.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Copland conducts Appalachian Spring here, November 23, 2011

By 

A Reader (La Jolla, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Copland: Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

Although I agree with a previous reviewer, that the connection with Bernard Herrmann is apparent to at least *some* of us, I have to disagree on one crucial fact: It's not Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic playing "Appalachian Spring" on this recording.

It's Aaron Copland himself conducting the Boston Symphony. That's a treat, although I like others' interpretations a bit better. If only for sentimental reasons, this stands out.

And, since this is a potpourri of recordings, here's the lineup:
Aaron Copland/Boston Symphony: "Appalachian Spring" and "The Tender Land (orchestral music from the opera)"
Eugene Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra: "Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Billy the Kid"
Arthur Fiedler/Boston Pops: "Rodeo: Hoedown"

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, beautiful and aweinspiring!, July 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Copland: Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

This is no doubt one of the most beautiful classical CD's I have ever listened to. Copland was and is an extremely gifted composer.