Aaron Copland Research Paper

Aaron Copland was the leading innovator in American music. He was one of the maximum valued yet respected musicians of the twentieth century. Aaron Copland was a marvelous inspiration to aid American musicians detach from the ‘European’ music style. Twentieth century Americanism was revealed in the tunes made by Aaron Copland; therefore, he was perceived as America’s supreme composer. Born a son of jewish immigrants, as well as being the youngest of the children, Aaron, grew up above his parent’s department store located in Brooklyn, New York. He endorsed his industry skills to his knowledge serving to run his parents’ business. His sister, Laurine, familiarized Aaron to opera as well as was his first piano teacher. At the age of seven, he was playing tunes at the piano of his own and was jotting …show more content…
However, teachings in composition and music theory were under the guidance of Rubin Goldmark, “an old-fashioned teacher...against whom Copland rebelled” (Naxos, 3). During that time, Aaron was charmed with Scriabin, Debussy and Ives as he battered New York’s open libraries for the newest American and European scores. Finally, Aaron’s fantasy of studying in Paris came to achievement (1921-4) taking piano lessons from Ricardo Vines and learning compositions with Nadia Boulanger. While in Paris, his European explorations opened him to a big variety of music styles; yet, with the inspiration of Boulanger, he was effective in producing his single compositions that became expressions of Americanism. Copland’s musical skills went past his composition; he was also a skillful conductor, author, teacher and pianist. Copland finished composing after 1972, “It was exactly as if someone had simply turned off a faucet”, as he stated (Pollack, 4). He was later diagnosed with Alzheimer disease and died at the age of