(24F1) Aaron Copland, the Jewish Dean of American Composers (11 & 18 Sept 2024)

September 11th, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm

Recording Session #1:  https://youtu.be/ULbFMjCpUGg

Recording Session #2:  https://youtu.be/xwIUBpKq2nE

The 1940s output of Aaron Copland is some of the most “American-sounding” work in the entirety of the classical oeuvre.  Is this because Copland, the son of Jewish immigrants, was able to capture the energy of the American republic in his work, or was it just that the popularity and accessibility of his work allowed it to fill a void in the public imagination?  In either case, the works Copland produced during this decade, from Appalachian Spring to Fanfare for the Common Man to Rodeo, have become touchstones for American classical music, earning him the title of “Dean of American Composers.”  These compositions, and more, will be examined and discussed in this two-part presentation, with recordings, video excerpts, and maybe even a bit of live performance from the instructor himself.

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Seth Kibel is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier woodwind specialists, working with some of the best bands in Klezmer, Jazz, Swing, and more.  Wowing audiences on clarinet, flute, and saxophone, Seth has made a name for himself in the Washington/Baltimore region, and beyond.  He is the featured performer with The Kleztet, Bay Jazz Project, Music Pilgrim Trio, The Natty Beaux, and more.  Winner of 28 Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies), including “Best World Music Instrumentalist” (2003-11) and “Best Jazz Instrumentalist” (2005, 2007-8, 2011-14). 

His most recent recording, “Clown with a Stick,” was released in May 2023 on the Azalea City Recordings record label.  He’s won numerous prizes in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (MASC) including the Grand Prize in 2016 and a Gold Prize in 2022.  When he’s not performing, Seth frequently lectures on a variety of topics in music history for numerous institutions, including the Osher Lifelong Learning programs at Johns Hopkins and Towson Universities.  See www.sethkibel.com for more information about Seth and a schedule of his pending performances.