As this year comes to a close, take a look back at new recordings of Copland’s music released in 2020.
Read more- Title
- An Outdoor Overture
- For
- orchestra
- Year Composed
- 1938
- Scoring
- 2.picc.2.2.2-4.2.3.0-timp.perc(3):xyl/cyms/tgl/BD/SD-cel(ad lib)-pft-strings
- ARCO Number(s)
- 34
- Category
- Orchestral
- Duration
- 10'
- Premiere
- World: New York, NY, December 16th, 1938 (High School of Music and Art Orchestra, cond. Alexander Richter)
- Commission Info
- Alexander Richter and the High School of Music and Art in New York
- Dedication
- Written specially for and dedicated to the High School of Music and Art in New York
- Publisher
- Boosey & Hawkes
- Publishing Status
- Published
- Version Of
- Signature (for chamber orchestra) (1938) (Based On)
- Versions
- An Outdoor Overture (arr. symphonic band) (1942) (Arrangement)
Buying Options
Boosey & HawkesExternal Links
Program Note
Composing for young performers was always close to Copland's heart, so he accepted the commission for a large orchestra piece from the High School of Music and Art in New York City. Copland wanted to play a role in introducing good contemporary American music to young players. In a review, Elliott Carter wrote: "Its opening is as lofty and beautiful as any passage that has been written by a contemporary composer. It is Copland in his prophetic vein. . . never before has he expressed it so simply and directly."
- Author
- Vivian Perlis
- Year
- 1998