70 (D-61) Aaron Copland, an American composer

70 (D-61) Aaron Copland (November 14, 1900 – December 2, 1990) was an American nationalist composer of concert and film music, as well as an accomplished pianist. He forged a distinctly American style of composition and he was widely known as "the dean of American composers". Copland's music succeeded in creating a balance between modern music and American folk styles. The open, slowly changing harmonies of many of his works are said to evoke the vast American landscape.

Billy the Kid is a 1938 ballet written by Aaron Copland. It is one of Copland's most popular and widely performed pieces. The story follows the life of the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid. It begins with the sweeping song "The Open Prairie" and shows many pioneers trekking westward. The action then goes to a small frontier town, in which a young Billy and his mother are present. Billy's mother is killed by an outlaw, and Billy himself kills the murderer, and goes on the run.
The scene then shifts to years in the future. Billy is an outlaw living in the desert*. He is captured by a posse (in which the ensuing gun battle features prominent percussive effects) and taken to jail, but manages to escape after stealing a gun from the guard during a game of cards. Returning to his hideout, Billy thinks he is safe, but Pat Garrett catches up and kills Billy. The ballet ends with the 'open prairie' theme and pioneers once again travelling west.
(Again fact mixed with fiction = the legend of Billy the Kid.)

For your listening pleasure (and NO problems with English!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdfPbHmEY4w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJOcCaGHIRk&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWd7BH1rQW8&feature=related

If you are more curious, THIS IS EXCELLENT, music and English for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqgcVlPsz8Y&feature=related Musical director Adam Stern, Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, talks about "Billy The Kid."

And, one more...more modern: Billy Joel (born May 9, 1949), an American rock musician, singer-songwriter, and classical composer: The Ballad of Billy the Kid by Billy Joel (piano). He was inspired to write a "western" song when he was traveling west from New York to Los Angeles for the first time. One inspiration for the song was the American composer, Aaron Copland. But once again, it is a historically inaccurate story of Billy The Kid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed_-brFWYdQ&feature=related (with lyrics on the right)

So, you have a choice: country western music (yesterday's post), classical or modern. You choose...or you can listen to ALL of them! Enjoy!

Jane
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*PRONUNCIATION:
Remember:
desert = "DEZ-ert", a hot place with little or no water
dessert = "dee-ZERT" ...something good to eat at the end of the meal