As orchestras find new ways to share and connect with audiences remotely, here are some of their latest offerings featuring classic Copland works.
Read more- Title
- Old American Songs, Set I
- For
- voice and piano
- Year Composed
- 1950
- ARCO Number(s)
- 65
- Category
- Vocal
- Duration
- 13'
- Songs
- 1. The Boatmen's Dance Alternate Titles: The Boatman's Dance, De Boatmen's Dance, De Boatman's Dance, De Boatmen Dance
- Version: The Boatmen's Dance in Old American Songs (choral suite for SA chorus) (2006) for two-part chorus (SA) and piano
- Version: The Boatmen's Dance in Old American Songs (choral suite for SAB chorus) (2006) for three-part mixed chorus (SAB) and piano
- Version: The Boatmen's Dance in Old American Songs, Set I (for band and chorus) (2001) for band and chorus
- Version: The Boatmen's Dance (for baritone, SATB chorus, and piano) (1952) for baritone solo, chorus (SATB), and piano
- Version: The Boatmen's Dance (for baritone, TTBB chorus, and piano) (1952) for baritone solo, chorus (TTBB), and piano
- 2. The Dodger
- Version: The Dodger in Old American Songs, Set I (for band and chorus) (2001) for band and chorus
- Version: The Dodger (for baritone, TTBB chorus, and piano) (1952) for solo baritone, chorus (TTBB) and piano
- Version: The Dodger (for SATB chorus and piano) (2001) for chorus (SATB) and piano
- 3. Long Time Ago
- Version: Long Time Ago in Old American Songs, Set I (for band and chorus) (2001) for band and chorus
- Version: Long Time Ago (for SATB chorus and piano) (1952) for chorus (SATB) and piano
- Version: Long Time Ago (for SSA chorus and piano) (1961) for chorus (SSA) and piano
- 4. Simple Gifts
- Version: Simple Gifts in Old American Songs (for string orchestra) (2006) for string orchestra
- Version: Simple Gifts in Old American Songs (for concert band) (2006) for concert band
- Version: Simple Gifts in Old American Songs (choral suite for SA chorus) (2006) for two-part chorus (SA) and piano
- Version: Simple Gifts in Old American Songs (choral suite for SAB chorus) (2006) for three-part mixed chorus (SAB) and piano
- Version: Simple Gifts in Old American Songs, Set I (for band and chorus) (2001) for band and chorus
- Version: Simple Gifts (for SA or TB chorus and piano) (1952) for chorus (SA or TB) and piano
- Version: Simple Gifts (for SATB chorus and piano) (2000) for chorus (SATB) and piano
- 5. I Bought Me a Cat
- Version: I Bought Me a Cat in Old American Songs (choral suite II for SA chorus) (2007) for two-part chorus (SA) and piano
- Version: I Bought Me a Cat in Old American Songs (choral suite II for SAB chorus) (2007) for three-part mixed chorus (SAB) and piano
- Version: I Bought Me a Cat in Old American Songs, Set I (for band and chorus) (2001) for band and chorus
- Version: I Bought Me a Cat (for SATB chorus and piano) (1952) for chorus (SATB) and piano
- Version: I Bought Me a Cat (for SSA chorus and piano) (1959) for chorus (SSA) and piano
- Version: I Bought Me a Cat (for TBB chorus and piano) (1952) for chorus (TBB) and piano
- Version: I Bought Me a Cat (for woodwind quintet) (2000) for woodwind quintet
- 1. The Boatmen's Dance
- Premiere
- World: Aldeburgh, June 17th, 1950 (Peter Pears, Benjamin Britten)
- Commission Info
- Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, for the Aldeburgh Festival
- Publisher
- Boosey & Hawkes
- Publishing Status
- Published: See collections
- Versions
- Old American Songs, Set I (arr. voice and orchestra) (1954) (Orchestration)
- Arrangements
- Old American Songs, Set I (for band and chorus) (arr. William H. Silvester)
- In Collections
- Old American Songs Complete (high voice) (for high voice and piano)
- Old American Songs Complete (original key) (for medium voice and piano)
- Old American Songs Complete (low voice) (for low voice and piano)
- Aaron Copland - Song Album (for high voice and piano)
- Copland for Violin (for violin)
- Copland for Flute (for flute)
- Copland For Clarinet (for clarinet)
- Copland for Alto Saxophone (for alto saxophone)
- Copland for Bass (for double bass)
- Copland for Bassoon/Trombone/Baritone B.C. (for bassoon, trombone, or baritone B.C.)
- Copland for Cello (for cello)
- Copland for Horn (for horn)
- Copland for Oboe (for oboe)
- Copland for Trumpet, Tenor Sax, Baritone T.C. (for trumpet, tenor saxophone, or baritone T.C.)
- Copland for Tuba (for tuba)
- Copland for Viola (for viola)
Program Note
Baritone William Warfield sang the [U.S.] premiere performance of Copland's folk song arrangements at Town Hall in 1951. He said, "The songs were a tremendous success. Aaron was an excellent pianist and, of course, knowing the flavor of them so well, it was a tremendous experience working with him."
The Boatmen's Dance, a minstrel show tune by Daniel Decatur Emmett, composer of "Dixie," is a lively tune with imitation banjo playing in the accompaniment. The Dodger is a satirical political song found by Copland in a collection by John and Alan Lomax. It dates from the political campaign of 1884 when Grover Cleveland defeated James G. Blaine. Long Time Ago is a setting of a lyrical nostalgic ballad discovered by the composer in the Harris Collection at Brown University. Simple Gifts is the Shaker song used in Appalachian Spring arranged in a straightforward style closer to the original folk version. I Bought Me a Cat, a children's nonsense song, repeats a refrain adding a farm animal as it proceeds. The harmony and accompaniment simulate barnyard sounds.
- Author
- Vivian Perlis
- Year
- 1998