- Title
- Canticle of Freedom
- For
- mixed chorus (SATB) and orchestra
- Year Composed
- 1955
- Year Modified
- 1966 (revised)
- Scoring
- 2.picc.2(II=corA ad lib).2.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(4):glsp/gong/t.bells/ vib/xyl/cyms/susp.cym/tam-t/tgl/wdbl/whip/BD/SD-harp-strings
- ARCO Number(s)
- 71
- Categories
- Orchestral Choral
- Duration
- 13'
- Premieres
- 1. World: Cambridge, MA, May 8th, 1955 (Chorus and Orchestra of MIT, cond. Klaus Liepmann)
- 2. Revised Version: Atlanta, GA, October 19th, 1967 (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, cond. Robert Shaw)
- Commission Info
- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for the dedication of its newly built Kresge Auditorium
- Related Persons
- John Barbour (text author)
- Publisher
- Boosey & Hawkes
- Publishing Status
- Published
- Arrangements
- Canticle of Freedom (for band) (arr. Thomas C. Duffy)
Buying Options
Boosey & HawkesProgram Note
A patriotic work for chorus and orchestra written originally for a non-professional chorus. Copland confined himself to two-part choral writing and to introducing the chorus only in the final third. As he wanted to "Make a big noise," a large battery of percussion is called for in the orchestra. The piece was revised later for a performance conducted by Robert Shaw.
- Author
- Vivian Perlis
- Year
- 1998