Klarinet Archive - Posting 000088.txt from 2007/10

From: Tim Roberts <timr@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Copland concerto
Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:52:08 -0400

This talk of Copland reminds me of a short story that our director,
Steve, tells.

During his time at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, in the late
1970s or early 1980s, Steve was given the task of arranging a seminar on
20th Century American Music. As he was stewing about the structure of
the seminar, he came up with the idea of contacting Copland to ask him
to be the keynote speaker. He found a telephone number and called,
figuring he would reach an agent or secretary or representative of some
kind. When an older-sounding voice answered, he introduced himself and
said he was trying to contact Aaron Copland. Imagine his surprise when
the response was "This is Aaron Copland."

Mr. Copland turned down the invitation, saying that he was too old to
travel around the country any more, but Steve said they spent a very
pleasant hour chatting about Copland's career and his impressions of
American music. He found Copland to be warm and personable.

--
Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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