Copland: The Tender Land (The Complete Chamber Version)

Aaron Copland (Composer), Murry Sidlin (Conductor), Jeffrey Peyton (Performer), Third Angle New Music Ensemble (Performer), Richard Zeller (Performer), Suzan Hanson (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jeffrey Peyton, Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Richard Zeller, Suzan Hanson
• Conductor: Murry Sidlin
• Composer: Aaron Copland
• Audio CD (November 30, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Koch International Classics
• ASIN: B00002EPMT
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,676 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The Tender Land: Act I: Introduction - A. Copland

2. The Tender Land: Act I: Beth & Ma Moss Entrance (Beth) (Ma Moss) - A. Copland

3. The Tender Land: Act I: Mr. Splinter's Entrance (Mr. Splinters) (Ma Moss) (Beth) - A. Copland

4. The Tender Land: Act I: This Is Like the Dress I Never Had (Beth) (Ma Moss) - A. Copland

5. The Tender Land: Act I: Laurie's Aria (Laurie) (Ma Moss) - A. Copland

6. The Tender Land: Act I: Remember The Boy Who Used To Call (Laurie) (Ma Moss) - A. Copland

7. The Tender Land: Act I: Martin And Top Entrance (Top) (Martin) (Laurie) - A. Copland

8. The Tender Land: Act I: We've Been North, We've Been South (Martin) (Top) (Laurie) (Grandpa Moss) - A. Copland

9. The Tender Land: Act I: Hire A Stranger (Grandpa Moss) (Martin) (Top) (Laurie) (Ma Moss) - A. Copland

10. The Tender Land: Act I: The Promise Of Living (Martin) (Laurie) (Ma Moss) (Grandpa Moss) (Top) - A. Copland

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The Tender Land: Act II: Something Strange Is Goin' On (Ma Moss) (Mr. Splinters) - Aaron Copland

2. The Tender Land: Act II: I Was Goin' A-Courtin' (Martin) (Grandpa Moss) (Top) (Ma Moss) (Mrs. Splinters) - Aaron Copland

3. The Tender Land: Act II: Love Scene a) You Dance Real Well (Martin) (Laurie) - Aaron Copland

4. The Tender Land: Act II: Love Scene b) Love Duet (Laurie) (Martin) - Aaron Copland

5. The Tender Land: Act II: Hey Bums! (Grandpa Moss) (Laurie) (Ma Moss) (Top) (Martin) (Mr. Splinters) (Mrs. Splinters) (Mr. Jenks) (Mrs. Jenks) - Aaron Copland

6. The Tender Land: Act II: Interlude - Transition (to Original Act III) - Aaron Copland

7. The Tender Land: Act II: Is There Someone in There That's Called Laurie (Martin) (Laurie) - Aaron Copland

8. The Tender Land: Act II: Daybreak Will Come (Laurie) (Martin) - Aaron Copland

9. The Tender Land: Act II: Is That How You See Laurie? (Top) (Martin) - Aaron Copland

10. The Tender Land: Act II: The Sun Is Comin' Up (Laurie) - Aaron Copland

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Chamber Version Works Really Well, November 11, 2000

By 

Ed Ting (Amherst, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Copland: The Tender Land (The Complete Chamber Version) (Audio CD)

I saw Sidlin's chamber version of this opera in Pittsburgh a few years ago and walked out of the concert with a warm glow inside. I've been beating the drum for this gentle little opera ever since, and I am glad to have his recording now.

This is wonderful music, and if all you know of Copland is Appalachian Spring and the other popular suites, you are in for a real treat. The quintet that closes the First Act, "The Promise of Living" is stirring and may cause you to hit that "repeat" button on your remote more than once.

The chamber version is thinner and leaner sounding than the full version, and as such it places greater demands on the singers. The chamber version is definitely a singer's opera; the orchestra is just along for the ride. Luckily, they're up to it. I noticed no weak spots among the cast. Ironically, the Brunelle/MN/Virgin recording uses the full orchestral version but the voices sound all wrong, as if the singers had just accidently wandered in from a Broadway play.

This is the one to get. Compleatists might want to seek out the Brunelle version too, but start with this one.

-Ed

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Copland: Composer for the American Depression Era, November 5, 2001

By 

Robert W. Allen (Northfield Falls, Vermont United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Copland: The Tender Land (The Complete Chamber Version) (Audio CD)

I will never forget the day that I first found a 33 1/3 recording of The Tender Land in Bailey's Music Rooms on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. I made my way up the hill to the Billings Student Center, found an empty listening booth, opened up the record, and started it spinning. When I heard the glorious ending of the First Act: "The Promise of Living," I dissolved into tears.
Now it is many years later, and there's a new recording, this time a more complete version, but a chamber version at that. I can only say that this work still moves me even today as it did then, and the chamber version seems a much better rendition than the one I originally owned for two reasons: First, because it's more complete, so the plot makes better sense. Second because it is a chamber version, it has a greater tendency to evoke the stark realities of Midwest farmlife in the depression era. Copland essentially grew up as a composer during that era, and it is worth studying some of his starker piano pieces, especially the Piano Variations and the Piano Sonata, to see how he evolved from a spare style that beautifully evoked the America of his day to the more substantial works that came later: Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Rodeo, and this great opera called The Tender Land. If anything, this opera is proof that the lessons he learned during the Depression were not lost on him, and became the basis for all the great music that followed.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Copland was, and still is, a genius., February 3, 2000

By 

"saberxray" (Vermillion, SD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Copland: The Tender Land (The Complete Chamber Version) (Audio CD)

Just recently, I was introduced to Copland when I had to sing "THE TENDER LAND" for a choral event. I found this peice to be deeply moving, and I looked elsewhere for the CD. After listening to the whole thing, I was pratically moved to tears by the shear beauty and power of the theme of the music. I always enjoyed Copland's work, like the Appalation Spring, or Rodeo, but this takes the cake. I give it a five star rating.