Music can only be really alive when there are listeners who are really alive. To listen intently, to listen consciously, to listen with one’s whole intelligence is the least we can do in the furtherance of an art that is one of the glories of mankind. Aaron Copland
This chapter is important to the mission of Copland's book. Even if you have skipped over late chapters on types of music that don't interest you, read this. Copland provides a helpful and informative take on the connections among composer, interpreter, and listener (that's you).
Learn how to carry out your responsibilities as a music listener.
Before you put Copland's book aside, listen to this performance of J.S. Bach's Fugue in A Minor, played by the Modern Jazz Quartet and guitarist Laurindo Almeida:
This piece was the first Additional Recommendation way back in Chapter 2. Compare your reaction to this piece then now.
Do you feel that you have learned more about what to listen for in music?
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In spring of 2018, we listened to the following pieces in our last class. All will reward repeated listening.
• A. Webern, 5 pieces for orchestra Pick a movement and listen to it a few times. Then listen to it every few days for awhile. Does it ever become enjoyable, or even familiar?
• A. Hovnaness, Mysterious Mountain Listen for familiar forms, especially in the second movement.
• Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179): O Frondens Virga Very early church music from an interesting woman.
• L. Janáček, Sinfonietta A programmatic suite, all movements loosely based on the opening fanfare. Can you hear echoes of that fanfare in each movement? Here is what the composer said, about listening to a military band playing one summer evening in his home town of Brno:
• Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, "Knife Edge" A rock song based on Janáček's Sinfonietta.
Some other pieces I had at the ready:
• William Grant Still, “Afro-American Symphony” (this link leads to the first movement, and should automatically play the succeeding movements.) William Grant Still was a contemporary of Gershwin.
• Ellen Taafe Zwillich, Symphony #1 (1982) Zwillich's symphony won her the 1983 Pulitzer Prize in Music.
• Four Freshmen, “Angel Eyes” How many different lines of harmony can you discern in this song?
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