Why did Copland write Billy the Kid?
Billy the Kid was written for the Ballet Caravan at the suggestion of its director, Lincoln Kirstein, who authored the book. The ballet, with choreography by Eugene Loring, was first performed in Chicago, in October 1938.
Did Billy the Kid play a musical instrument?
“He had a beautiful singing voice,” adds Hirst, also an executive producer of the series, as are Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank of Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television. “He played musical instruments. He was incredibly sensitive.
Who choreographed Billy the Kid?
Eugene Loring
Eugene Loring, the dancer and choreographer who created ”Billy the Kid,” an American ballet classic, died Monday in Kingston, N.Y., after a long illness. He was 72 years old.
What style is Appalachian Spring?
It is a condensed version of the ballet, retaining all essential features but omitting those sections in which the interest is primarily choreographic. The Orchestral Suite from 1945 was first recorded by Serge Koussevitzky with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Who composed Bolero?
Maurice RavelBoléro / Composer
Did Billy the Kid play guitar?
A year prior, Billy began taking guitar lessons, and learned some chords, basic fingerings and exercises on his guitar.
What ballet did Aaron Copland write?
His three American ballets, Billy the Kid, Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring were innovative for their use of distinctly American dances on the classical ballet stage. Although the three works are often lumped together, each is distinctive in its ideas.
What is Seraphic Dialogue about?
Martha Graham’s “Seraphic Dialogue” recounts the spiritual journey of Joan of Arc, and on Friday night at the Alvin theater, a superb cast turned the performance into a spiritual experience in itself.
Who wrote Rhapsody in Blue?
George GershwinRhapsody in Blue / Composer
Who is the greatest American composer of all time?
Aaron Copland, the greatest of all American composers.
Who was considered the greatest composer in American music history?
1. Leonard Bernstein. What is this? Leonard Bernstein was a conductor and composer, and he was also a pianist, music teacher, author, and humanitarian.
Was Billy the Kid fast with a gun?
According to Pat Garrett, Billy was “quick as a flash.” While a good shot, he said, Billy “was no better than the majority of men who are constantly handling and using six-shooters. . . .”
Who choreographed Billy the Kid ballet?
Billy the Kid is a 1938 ballet written by the American composer Aaron Copland on commission from Lincoln Kirstein. It was choreographed by Eugene Loring for Ballet Caravan.
What is Billy the Kid most famous for?
It is most famous for its incorporation of several cowboy tunes and American folk songs and, although built around the figure and the exploits of Billy the Kid, is not so much a biography of a notorious but peculiarly appealing desperado as it is a perception of the “Wild West”, in which a figure such as Billy played a vivid role.
When was the first performance of Billy the Kid?
The first performance in New York City occurred on 24 May 1939, with an orchestra conducted by Fritz Kitzinger. The story follows the life of the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid. It begins with “The Open Prairie” and shows many pioneers trekking westward. The action shifts to a small frontier town, in which a young Billy and his mother are present.
What is Copland’s most famous piece of music?
Along with Rodeo and Appalachian Spring, it is one of Copland’s most popular and widely performed pieces.