Analyses of Aaron Copland’s works have often been placed into two categories, the popular and the difficult. These stylistic labels are often problematic, and Copland himself had issues with this discord, as it suggests that his use of popular genres, such as jazz, ballet, and film, are written in a “simple” style. “Difficult” style pieces consist of his symphonies, piano music, and other long-established highly-esteemed genres. This dichotomy proves challenging when considering neo-classical pieces such as his Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, with Harp and Piano (1948). The work has two movements, connected by a lengthy cadenza. Each movement is begun immediately after the last, with considerable overlap. The concerto, commissioned
