Aaron Copland was an American composer who was said to have left a deep legacy in the music industry of the United States due to his musical contributions in the field of dance, movies, and play. Aside from his musical association, Copland was also a well-known conductor, teacher, author, pianist, and speaker, making him one of the most accomplished musicians of all time.
Born on November 14, 1900 in Brooklyn, New York of Russian-Jewish descent, Aaron Copland was the youngest among five children. For Copland, music was an art that he learned and discovered by himself. Such point of view could be expected to come from a man who, at a young age of eight, was able to compose his first song dedicated to his mother, and at the age of 15, he studied music in New York City together with the American composer Rubin Goldmark. He was also able to attend the class of one of Paris’ most influential French teacher, Nadia Boulanger, in 1921.
Copland was also said to be the first American to attend the French impressionist Boulanger’s class. Thus, his earliest musical works seem to be heavily influenced by Boulanger, but later on, he developed his own personalized musical style which has made him popular to date (“Aaron Copland,” 2009).
Three years after studying in Paris, Copland returned to New York and was very eager to write his own song, with which he desired to have the distinct American characteristics. As such, in 1925, he finished “The Music for the Theater,” which he created for a small orchestra. The song contains both blues and ragtime elements that have a Stravinsky way of approach in rhythm and harmony (Key, Rothe, & Thomas, 2001). Such jazzy approach resonated in his “Piano concerto” which he created in 1927 (“Aaron Copland,” 2009).
After his experimentation with jazz rhythms, Copland composed more serious and highly dissonant music that was directed towards more sophisticated listeners. Such approach was evident in his 1930 “Piano Variations,” which conveys intense concentration, starkness, and powerful percussive, and “Statements (1933-1935),” which expresses a combination of “irregular rhythms, angular melodies, and highly dissonant melodies” (“Aaron Copland,” 2009, n.p.).
Between 1930’s and 1940’s, Copland altered his highly dissonant musical approach to a much simpler style in order to make his works more accessible to a much larger audience. Hence, his music became more lyrical and melodic, which he applied in creating ballet musical pieces. He frequently drew his inspiration from American folk music, as seen from “Billy the Kid (1938),” “Rodeo (1942),” and “Spring Appalachian (1944)” (Dagoon, 1993, p. 248).
Copland’s use of jazzy revival hymns, cowboy songs, and other forms of folk tunes reflected American themes and encapsulated the American way of life, notable of which is the 1942 patriotic work “Lincoln Portrait,” which he created for an orchestra and a narrator. He also adapted Mexican folk music to finalize “El Salon Mexico” in 1942. Other orchestral pieces that Copland is known for include: “Symphony for Organ and Orchestra (1925),” “The Symphonic Ode” in 1932, and “The Third Symphony (1946)” where he incorporated another work which is the “Fanfare for the Common Man (1942).” It was also during this period when he created an opera directed to high school students, “The Second Hurricane” in 1937, and started creating music for films such as “Of Mice and Men (1937),” “Our Town (1940),” and his well recognized “The Heiress (1949),” which won an Academy Award for best dramatic film score (“Aaron Copland,” 2009)
From his creations, it could be pointed out that Copland’s musical pieces are both clear and transparent, and at the same time, they contain motionless harmonies that illumine the American lifestyle during his time. Although tonal, his willingness to seek for new musical techniques in order to present something new showed his versatility and at the same time reflected the person of wonder that he was. While innovative in nature, his musical approach can also be treated as a classic at the same time, in a sense that it leaves its audience the impression of becoming simply an American (Key et al., 2001).
In 1950’s, Aaron Copland returned to his highly dissonant style, which can be observed in his complex and virtuosic piece, “Piano Fantasy (1957)” (“Aaron Copland,” 2009). He also turned to a serial technique that used the tone row or series manipulation in his 1962 work, “Connotations for Orchestra” (Key et al., 2001).
Aside from being a skillful composer, Copland also became a director for a composer’s group, an organizer for American music and lecturer. He also taught young composers at Tanglewood’s Berkshire Music Center for 25 years, and was recognized for promoting the music of other contemporary composers (Key et al., 2001). As an author, much of his musical know-hows were culminated in pieces such as “What to Listen for in Music (1939), “Music and Imagination (1952),” “Our New Music (1941)” which was revised into “The New Music” in 1968, and finally, “Copland on Music (1960)” (“Aaron Copland,” 2009).
Copland lived to celebrate his 90th birthday before death finally claimed him on December 2, 1990 in New York’s North Tarrytown (“Aaron Copland,” 2009). Nevertheless, his death did not hinder him and his music to gain a following of devoted musicians, proving his strong influence in classical American music.
Aaron Copland certainly played a significant role in shaping much of the American music landscape, as seen from his artistic excellence and contributions. His popularity based on his undertakings proved to be worthy of praise. His innovative musical techniques as well as his passion for music radiated in his compositions and reflected the important values of American living. Hence, several of his works served as an inspiration for many aspiring musicians and became a ground for advancing the appreciation of indigenous music in the United States. Currently, Aaron Copland’s life and work continue to live on and inspire many young individuals with the same pursuit as he did.
References
- Aaron Copland. (2009). Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 8, 2009,from http://encarta.msn.com/text_761566321___0/Aaron_Copland.html.
- Key, S., Rothe, L., & Thomas, M. (2001). American Mavericks. California: University of California Press.
Expand My Horizons
The desire to widen and expand my horizons has always been my motivating factor to pursue my interests. It gives me the willingness to overcome boundaries and hurdles to promote the creation of skills and expertise that can guarantee a stable future and successful professional career. With this inspiration and mindset, I wish to show my intention to apply as a Motion Pictures & Television Graduate Student at the Academy of Art University.
The passion for creativity and imagination has prompted me to apply for this graduate degree. Given the diversified environment right now, it is important that I be formally educated in an institution that can hone and develop my skills and expertise in the field. At the same time, I wish that I can be able to use my previous study as a model wherein I can effectively apply in the film and television industries.
I am an immigrant from South Korea who went to Canada to seek and explore the possibilities of further education. Looking back, I was to finish my Bachelor of Arts in Economics in McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario last 2008. To further supplement this degree, I enrolled at the McMaster University’s Centre for Continuing Education. In here, I was a Diploma in Management Studies candidate.
Looking at my working experience, I had involved myself in both the practice of my profession. In summer of 2007, I was an interim assistant manager at CJ GLS Delivery Service at Bu-Cheon, South Korea. Back at 2005, I was affiliated with Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel Summer Camp as an English teaching assistant. With all of these, I did not only have the necessary capabilities to interact with other people but also gave me the leadership skills necessary to prepare me for this application.
The ideas and concepts surrounding film and television have always intrigued me. Though I may have not taken it up as my major in College, I feel that it is not too late to do so. Due to this, I now seek this graduate degree AAU because the school can provide me with the effective instruction and training to satisfy both my short and long term goals which include being part of the entertainment industry or working for a theater group. I see this degree to be a good fit because with the mixture of my management background and having competency in this field, I can maximize and expand my career not only in the entertainment industry but also in various fields of media and arts.
With my pending citizenship application in Canada, I seek to work for the country for a year so that I can fulfill the necessary requirements. Given this situation, if ever the university shall accept me as their student, I wish to take part in an on-line program. I feel that instruction and the commitment of the professors are likely the same compared with the real classroom setup. Moreover, I can supplement my study by working as a theatre manager so that I can apply the theories and concept that learn towards the real scenario. By doing this, I can expand and develop new skills that can be beneficial in my study.
In the end, I hope that the admissions committee considers my application. Not only shall this be vital for the realization of my career but can also shape the direction of my decisions in the next 5-10 years. Though I may not be able to provide you with extensive background in the field, I feel that my hard work, dedication and persistence can give me the leverage over other candidates in this realm. Providing me with this opportunity can give me the capability to showcase art and media to other people and help create appreciation and inspiration.
Controversy On Child Beauty Pageants
Child beauty pageants have been around for a long time. Children started competing in beauty pageants in the 1960’s. (Nussbaum) Children are judged on beauty, talent, and outfit of choice. Little girls or boys from infancy all the way up to preteen are judged in all of those categories.They base everything off of kids who have the barbie doll look , Fake hair, spray on tan, and heavy make up. At pageants the clock moves quickly causing parents to skip the nap and go straight for pure sugar and caffeine for their tots. Parents also squander all of their money on these pageants, and go bankrupt which can make a child see money as just another thing. Glitz pageants can build kids up when they are young only to knock them down when they become older. Glitz beauty pageants are harmful to young children and should be banned.
Parents break the bank so that their child can get ahead in the competition. Some get mad and say hurtful things when their child doesn’t perform up to their standards. Some might even say they could have done it better making you realize who really wants to do the pageants. These comments can break a child’s confidence down completely. There is evidence of this on Tlc’s show Toddlers and Tiaras. It is not exactly fair to a child who’s parents exploit them. There is a notion called the princess by proxy , which is where a parent lives vicariously through their child and will do anything to put them in the lime light. ( Cartwright) Parents say their little girl loves it , but the child’s face usually says otherwise. Children should not be made to feel like their looks are the only thing that matter in life.
There are parents who say they do pageants for a child’s self-esteem, confidence, and poise. Some even go as far as throwing it out that they want them to make it as a model or somewhere in hollywood. Kids rarely make it and can grow up to have mental and physical health problems. Girls who do not get noticed for their beauty or out grow being cute in their older years are usually the ones who struggle in life. They have set backs and have been known to develop eating disorders as well as body image disapproval. They are in for a downfall if their parents do not show them that pageants are simply just a bigger way of playing dress up. Children should be taught that beauty is not everything.(Agadoni) Today society is based on how people look, but people also wants brains and skills to come with it. No one can get by with just a pretty face and many children are in for a rude awakening if they are not opened up to this reality.
There have been news on young beauty pageant kids. There was a little girl who’s mom got the rap for dressing her provocatively in a Dolly Parton outfit. Another was a little girl who was wearing a madonna outfit with the pointy boobs. One other little girl was dressed up to be Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, her mother said she was cute.Which is what most mothers say about their daughters skimpy outfits. They say sex sells, but toddlers and children have no place in that at all. Their parents parade them around in daisy duke costumes and skimpy bikinis and wonder why there are sick people in the world. The parents make their children do spray tans to make them have adark color because it is healthier looking.Whatever that means if they really wanted a healthy child they would not have them in pageants.Their parents are exploiting them and basically giving them out as free kiddie porn for pedophiles. Young girls are taught how to get attention in the worst way possible. It is the opinion of most that pageants or at least clothes sexualizing children should be banned.(Agadoni) Children need to keep their innocence as long as they can.When you shelter them from evil then you can then teach them better values in life like education.
There is no doubt that pageants cost an arm and a leg. Some parents drop hundreds to thousands of dollars on their child’s pageant career. Most parents do not see half of that money back. To enter the pageant the cost is between $50 to $500 dollars. The pageants usually have different categories and each extra category costs $20 or $30.(Sandberg) Parents will end up spending a few hundred to a couple thousand on a child’s beauty dress. I have seen on toddlers and tiaras where mothers said they live with parents ,or they have squander their savings , maxed out credit cards, and have several loans. Money apparently is no object in this game and children will be the ones to suffer. A woman, Laura Rose, was a former child pageant competitor.
She was interviewed and had said that her mother borrowed and borrowed from friends and family member to pay for pageants. In the interview she said that sometimes all she had to eat was Pepperidge Farm cookies . Also says that her mother sends her those cookies to this day because she thinks she likes them, but in reality it brings back bad memories.(Sandberg) Children definitely suffer when the parent isn’t being responsible. Children should be protected from the form of abuse that are in beauty pageants.
They should be more into what is going on at preschool instead of taking another child down at a pageant. Children are young, noble and need to be protected from evil influenced by society. ( Essa) Getting kids involved in real activities and school will give kids confidence and a social life. Uncorrupted education will result in adults who have good morals and more focused on the greater good. (Essa) Parents who spend quality time with their kids will build their child up to be successful without turning them into superficial adults later on in life. This will have a end result of having a healthier and happier child who will successfully be able to have good relationships with others through life.
Resources
- Eva L. Essa – Introduction to Early Childhood Education Chapter 5
- Laura Agadoni ,How do child beauty pageants affect a child’s development?- http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/child-beauty-pageants-affect-childs-development-3088.html
- Kareen Nussbaum, Children and beauty Pageants – http://www.minorcon.org/pageants.html
- Nick Nauert , Martina Cartwright ,Child beauty pageants may be more about parents,october 29,2012- http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/10/29/child-beauty-pageants-may-be-more-about-parents/46818.html
- you tube- Toddlers and Tiaras, may 21,2009- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORcBTC7TiVY&list=PL0F06C2E2547891CA
- you tube- Toddlers and Tiaras,january 30,2013- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQj4_W6nk1M
- you tube- controversy on child beauty pageants-news,january 11,2014- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf1PU3jDENQ&list=PLqh2l6o-OJUUhcvs5qKsFg0w2oHQgHRJ5
- you tube- pageant mom defends hooker costume,september 8,2011- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA-QDeLGpIQ
- you tube-custody battle racy outfit dolly parton,august 20,2012- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRwA1eiXVTs
- Erica Sandberg, Toddlers and Tiaras -The debt – The costs of child beauty pageants,July 21,2011 – http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/toddlers-tiaras-beauty-pageants-debt-costs-1278.php