In Sunday’s (3/24) Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), Elizabeth Kramer writes, “Many Americans find their way into classical music through the popular work of composer Aaron Copland—‘Appalachian Spring,’ ‘Rodeo,’ ‘Billy the Kid’ and ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’—music that was inspired by this country’s spirit and history. But more than a decade before composing this work, he found the drive to create it outside this country’s borders. It was rooted in the first trip Copland took to Mexico in 1932 at the invitation of Carlos Chavez, the Mexican composer and conductor and Copland’s friend. … On that trip, Copland began working on ‘El Salon Mexico,’ which depicted the popular Mexico City dance club and premiered under Chavez’s baton in 1937. … This week, the Louisville Orchestra, the University of Louisville’s School of Music and the Louisville Visual Art Association explore the forces that moved Copland and other artists of that time and the work they produced in a festival called ‘Music Unwound: Copland and Mexico.’ … The festival includes the LVAA’s photo exhibit ‘Paul Strand: The Mexican Portfolio’ and a related gallery talk on Tuesday, panel discussions organized by the Louisville Orchestra and U of L, and a concert at the university featuring the music of Copland, Chavez and Revueltas played by students, faculty and Louisville Orchestra members.”
Posted March 26, 2013
