Excerpts from Appalachian Spring

Excerpts from Appalachian Spring was arranged by Robert Longfield (see below) in 2015 from the orchestral suite from the ballet by Aaron Copland (see also below).

From the arranger, Robert Longfield:

“Appalachian Spring is one of Aaron Copland’s most celebrated compositions. It was written in 1943-44 as a ballet for Martha Graham on a commission from the Elisabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation. It was first performed at the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. on October 30, 1944.

The ballet takes place around a newly-built Pennsylvania farmhouse in the early 1800’s. A young farmer and his bride-to-be are visited by members of their community as they contemplate the joys and apprehensions of their new life together. Appalachian Spring received the Pulitzer Prize in 1945 and the award for the outstanding theatrical work of the 1944-45 season by the Music Critics Circle of New York.

The music of Appalachian Spring has been adapted in several diverse formats. Copland himself condensed the ballet into a suite which he scored for symphony orchestra and for a smaller chamber group. In this new edition, excerpts from the suite are scored for concert band, giving band members and their audiences the opportunity to enjoy some of the most popular music from one of America’s pre-eminent composers.”

Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) was an American composer, critic, writer, teacher, pianist, and conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as the “Dean of American Music”. The open, slowly changing harmonies in much of his music are typical of what many consider the sound of American music, evoking the vast American landscape and pioneer spirit. He is best known for the works he wrote in the 1930s and 1940s in a deliberately accessible style often referred to as “populist” and which he called his “vernacular” style. Works in this vein include the ballets Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid and Rodeo, his Fanfare for the Common Man and Third Symphony. In addition to his ballets and orchestral works, he produced music in many other genres, including chamber music, vocal works, opera, and film scores.

Arranger Robert “Bob” Longfield (b. 1947) was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He earned a bachelor of Music Education with honors from the University of Michigan, where he played saxophone, and received his master's degree in Music Education from the University of Miami. For fifteen years, Longfield was the band and orchestra director at Davison High School in Davison, Michigan. Since 1987, he has held a similar position at Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest, Florida. Longfield was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. In 1996, he received the Mr. Holland Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Sciences for outstanding contributions to music education.

A member of ASCAP, Longfield has received several commissions and his compositions and arrangements have been played and recorded by bands and orchestras throughout the United States as well as in Europe and Japan. He is currently the Music Director of the Greater Miami Symphonic Band (in addition to his teaching duties at Miami Palmetto). In honor of Longfield's accomplishments, Miami-Dade County officially recognized April 5, 2006 as Robert Longfield Day.

The music for Excerpts from Appalachian Spring was provided for the band by Ross Fjermedal and Susan Evans and service dog Dewey.