Title
Piano Concerto
For
piano and orchestra
Alternate Titles
  • Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Alternate/Synonymous)
  • Jazz Concerto (Nickname)
Year Composed
1926
Scoring
2.picc.2.corA.2.Ebcl.bcl.asax(=ssax).2.dbn-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(5): xyl/Chinese dr/cyms/tam-t/tgl/wdbl/BD/SD-cel-strings
ARCO Number(s)
12
Category
Orchestral
Duration
18'
Movements
  • 1. Andante sostenuto
  • 2. Molto moderato - Allegro assai
Premiere
  • Boston, January 28th, 1927 (Copland, Boston Symphony Orchestra, cond. Serge Koussevitzky)
Dedication
To Alma Morgenthau Wertheim
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes
Publishing Status
Published
Buying Options
Boosey & Hawkes
External Links
Jump To

Program Note

Copland played the piano solo in the premiere of his "Jazz Concerto" with Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Scored for large orchestra, the instrumentation includes alto and soprano saxophones and extra percussion. The Concerto is in two sections reflecting what Copland considered the two basic moods of jazz — "the slow blues and the snappy number." Copland's parents came from Brooklyn to Boston for the premiere, and Copland wrote, "I was delighted when Ma said it was her proudest moment and that my playing in the Concerto made all those music lessons worthwhile!" The critics panned the piece, and it retained a reputation as a shocker until Bernstein revived it in 1946 with Leo Smit at the keyboard.

Author
Vivian Perlis
Year
1998