 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-02 20:40
I was mightely impressed recently by the Mormon Tabernacle Orchestra's performance of a ?portion? of A C's Suite from the Tender Land Opera [1950s], likely the "Promise of Living" ?finale?. As far as I can determine there is a full orch set/score available [prob. B&H], does anyone know of any arrangement for concert band performance, please. TKS, Don
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-04 01:54
Don - it's an opera I know nothing about ... has it been recorded by the Met, say? (I'm a big fan of Copland - especially his 3rd symphony).
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-04 03:27
Hi Diz - Beyond hearing [I'm sure now] The Promise of Living, apparently its the Act 1 Finale, which had some musical similarities, harmonies, cl solo parts, etc, like Appalachian Spring and Lincoln Portrait, what I know of it is derived from descriptions of the sheet music [JW Pepper] and CD's found in searching. It seems to be a short [2 act?] opera, and some comments indicated a none-too-good story, so not very popular as such, I guess. Perhaps similar to the fate of the many operas where only the overtures still survive? I made a quick check in opera books, no mentions, good mention of C's early music in M Cross "Great Composers & Music", believe T L was in the 1950's, [our great time for Bdwy Musicals]. Will check Larousse and Groves [library] tomorrow, and report any significant details. Perhaps I was somewhat carried away by the BIG orch and BIGGER choruses, and the superb acoustics in the Tabernacle , but it was GREAT!! Gosh, I do go on, TKS for asking. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-04 19:58
Diz - as best I can determine , Tender Land had only 2 performances, 1st by NYC Opera, was revised, 2nd by a Cambridge? group. The Oxford Dict of Opera has a half-column 2" long resume, the story sounds very "rustic" and simple, Grove's scarcely mentions it. I'm disappointed, partic. that no mention is made of the music, mid-to later Copland. With several arrgmts and CD's there is some popularity, at least of the "Promise" music. Don
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-04 20:21
Don ... is there an extant anthology of Copland's music - I'm thinking the Library of Congress might (should) have a project like this in the pipeline (if not already undertaken)?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-04 20:59
Grove's has some 4-5 pages on Copland, I just skimmed it [and didn't copy] for T L. He received much "late" recognition here and his association with Bernstein and others should have provided much for biographies etc. Let's look in Amazon and B&N, I'll bet there are publications out there! I have an old [1957] PB "Modern Music" [Howard and Lyons] with several Copland references, !! mention of T L as "[which failed]", Tks for getting me to look in it! Research? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: eddiec ★2017
Date: 2003-11-05 06:37
My band director told me a story about Copland visiting FSU while he was there in the late 70s.
Naturally the ensembles were playing almost every piece Copland ever wrote, including "Tender Land". Copland conducted a rehearsal of it. At the end, he said something to the effect of "This is a piece of junk isn't it? I was told all great composers write at least one opera, so thats why I did it". (Extremely loose paraphrase there)
Of course even if a work is a failure overall it can still contain a few nice gems.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-11-05 20:58
all great composers? I guess that means Brahms is not great ... (sigh)
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