20th century and todayAaron Copland
Aaron Copland was born in New York.
Aaron Copland’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1900👶 Birth
Born in Brooklyn on 14 November, son of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania
- 1917📚 Trainingage 17
Harmony lessons in New York
- 1921🧳 Journeyage 21
Goes to France: Nadia Boulanger’s first American pupil
- 1925🎼 Workage 25
Organ Symphony, premiered by Nadia Boulanger in New York
- 1936🎼 Workage 36
El Salón México
- 1938🎼 Workage 38
Billy the Kid, ballet
- 1939🌍 Meanwhile
The Second World War begins
- 1945🎩 Careerage 45
Pulitzer Prize for Appalachian Spring
- 1948🌍 Meanwhile
The long-playing record (LP) goes on sale
- 1950🎩 Careerage 50
Academy Award for best film score (The Heiress)
- 1964🌍 Meanwhile
Robert Moog presents his synthesizer
- 1982🌍 Meanwhile
The compact disc (CD) is launched
- 1990🕯️ Deathage 90
Dies on 2 December in North Tarrytown
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
Aaron Copland’s music is still recent: it belongs to its creators and their families. Ask a grown-up to play it for you on the radio or at a concert!
Once upon a time…
Aaron Copland was born in New York. His parents, who came from Lithuania, ran a big shop. No one in his family was a musician, but at fifteen Aaron decided he would be a composer!
He went to France to study with the famous teacher Nadia Boulanger. She encouraged him to invent truly American music.
Back home he wrote ballets about cowboys and the Wild West, like Billy the Kid and Rodeo. In Appalachian Spring he tells of a pioneer family’s spring celebration. His music feels like wide open spaces, prairies and mountains.
He even won an Oscar for a film score!
Aaron Copland’s instruments
Tap an instrument to hear it!
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