- Title
- Prairie Journal
- For
- orchestra
- Alternate Titles
- Music for Radio: Saga of the Prairie (Original Title)
- Saga of the Prairie (Alternate/Synonymous)
- Year Composed
- 1937
- Year Modified
- 1968 (retitled)
- Scoring
- 2(II=picc).2.2.asax(=cl).tsax(=bcl).1-2.3(2).2.1-timp.perc(2):vib/ xyl/tgl/BD-harp-pft(cel)-strings
- ARCO Number(s)
- 31
- Category
- Orchestral
- Duration
- 12'
- Premiere
- World: New York, NY, July 25th, 1937 (CBS Radio Orchestra, cond. Howard Barlow)
- Commission Info
- Davidson Taylor and the Columbia Broadcasting System
- Dedication
- To Davidson Taylor
- Publisher
- Boosey & Hawkes
- Publishing Status
- Published
Buying Options
Boosey & HawkesExternal Links
Program Note
Radio was a novel and exciting medium for classical music in the 1930s. Copland always enjoyed the challenge of something new, so he welcomed a commission from CBS for an orchestral work specifically for their network. He used several special effects, such as muted trumpets, woodwinds at the microphone, and a vibraphone. A contest for the title was announced, and the winner was Music for Radio, Saga of the Prairie. The piece was later renamed Prairie Journal.
- Author
- Vivian Perlis
- Year
- 1998