Customer Reviews

Portraits Of Freedom: Music of Aaron Copland and Roy Harris

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The inclusion of Copland's "Fanfare" and "A Lincoln Portrait" into a CD such as this is a no-brainer, but these recordings are the best of their kind--tremendous sound, and the quintessential narrator in Jones to complete it. Schwarz also blesses us with one of Copland's little-known choral works that sends a powerful patriotic message, and the "Outdoor Overture" is simply Copland at his jovial best at the prime of his composing career. The selected Harris works add further impact to the disc: the only recording available of "American Creed," along with Harris' unforgettable interpretation of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," round it out wonderfully. The Roy Harris works may be the true highlight of the disc--if that's possible. Another splendid job by Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony.

Portraits of Freedom is a CD featuring works by Aaron Copland and Roy Harris which have a special emphasis on democracy. Not just a "hack" American music CD, features include the very well known to some virtually unknown compositions making this a welcome addition to the Copland/Harris recorded music oeuvre.

Fanfare for the Common Man brings nothing new, but it is such a great miniature. Less recorded is the Lincoln Portrait. Copland opens with a slow triumphant fanfare melody which gives way to a faster "Camptown Races" melody and brilliantly weaves the two together. The piece ends with a dramatic reading by James Earl Jones.

Canticle of Freedom, rarely heard, features chorus. The music and text are interesting enough to wonder why it has been neglected. Along with the Outdoor Overture, Copland uses not only uses his trademark rhythms and harmonies, but dissonance is judiciously placed to give his music an American experience.

Roy Harris' American Creed and When Johnny Comes Marching Home are also rarely heard, nonetheless recorded. Harris' music is a bit more ponderous than that of Copland, and while Harris sticks with more classical formal designs, it is interesting to note the many harmonic and orchestration similarities which exist between the two composers. Harris' energetic "When Johnny..." is also very interesting, especially when compared to the more famous American Salute by Morton Gould.

The liner notes are voluminous accounts into the background of Copland. You really get the gist of how close he was to music and patriotism and how that evolved throughout the 20th Century. The Seattle Symphony plays well on this disk; you can tell they have a real feel of the music. While you can find better recordings of Fanfare and the Outdoor Overture, you can't beat this Lincoln Portrait, and you probably won't find the other works anywhere else, especially so well performed. Copland was serious about music and democracy and it shows in these works; the lesser known ones are greatly eclipsed by his more famous works, and so you probably have to be a Copland junkie to buy this CD. In that case, this will be an easy buy for you!

I have listened to several recordings of the Lincoln Portait narrated by Henry Fonda, Carl Sandberg and Katherine Hepburn, and I can tell you that James Earl Jones is by far the most inspiring speaker of them all and surpases all of them by a wide margin. Every word James speaks comes from his heart and it is an extremely moving experience.

An interesting note: Every speaker before James Earl Jones reads the following line, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." with the emphasis on the words "of", "by" and "for". When James reads it, he shifts the emphasis to the word "people" each time and it makes an impressive difference. He is masterful.

Every time I listen to it it gives me goose bumps and tears swell up in my eyes and my chest fills with pride and warmth. It inspires me to do great things.

Jeff

If you buy this CD, you'll probably do so for Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait." You won't be disappointed, either, for this is one of the best renditions of that particular symphonic war-horse in print. It's well performed, and James Earl Jones's majestic voice transcends the kitschier aspects of Copland's narration.

"Fanfare for the Common Man" is also here in all its brassy glory, although if you're like me you've heard it so often it gives you a headache. But in all likelihood you haven't heard the other Copland works on this CD: "Canticle of Freedom" and the seldom-performed "An Outdoor Overture." "An Outdoor Overture" is second-tier Copland -- a pleasant symphonic poem, nothing too remarkable. "Canticle of Freedom," on the other hand, exemplifies Copland's worst tendencies as a composer; most of it is just noisy and not musically interesting.

The real surprise here is Roy Harris's three-movement "American Creed," which is both inspiring and musically sound. It is a patriotic symphony that mostly avoids bombast, and it ought to be performed far more often. Harris is a much underrated composer, and this is one of his best works.

On the whole, this CD is a smashing good classical music collection for a Flag Day or Fourth of July holiday -- or for any time you just want to celebrate being an American.

James Earl Jones is simply magnificent in the narration of "A Lincoln Portrait". Very moving and inspirational.

I totally agree with the other reviews about how superb this offering is of Copland's music.I simply want to focus on A LINCOLN PORTRAIT. It has been a favorite piece since 1960. I have heard most of the recordings and the various speakers. NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO MOVED AS I HAVE BEEN WITH JAMES EARL JONES! WHAT POWER! WHAT CONVICTION! WHAT JOY!

An excellent recording. I consider James Earl Jones' narration to be the definitive version of "Lincoln Portrait".

This particular recording is outstanding; the narration by James Earl Jones makes it so. To listen to the percussion, followed by the inimitable voice of Jones is worth the time and money. The work is a classic.

Gerard Schwarz and the Seatle Symphony's performance of Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man is one of the best that you can hear on these times: Solemn, moving and extremely beautiful. The voice of James Earl Jones in Lincoln Portrait is definitively pearless. This astonishing work, merging some music by Aaron Copland that flows from the very heart and soul of American people, and the quite deep words and thoughts of President Lincoln, are indeed a real gift from the USA to the entire mankind. The other works on this cd, composed by Copland himself and Roy Harris (wonderfuly played by the Seattle Symphony and Chorale) are truly superb.

Wonderful and amazing. My mother used to play this when I was young on the record player (although it was not James Earl Jones of course.. It brought back a lot of memories and it is great to hear the writings of Abraham Lincoln.