Springtime double take

One of the more interesting pieces I like is Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland.  It opens oh so peacefully, like the opening of spring in an early morning ... then it explodes (just after the three minute mark) with a set of stringed arpeggios in an odd way and then the brass (3 min 40 sec) with a transfer of the melody, counter playing against the continuing arpeggios of the strings, to the low horns.  The odd arpeggios are different in that instead of being fundamental - third - fundamental-third, it is fundamental - one octave down - fundamental - third.  It is a bit surprising and unusual.  The musical fight goes on for a bit, and, just as suddenly, at the 5 min 15 sec point, quiets down again.

Closing your eyes you can see spring unfolding ... flowers blooming, small animals awakening to a new day, imminent danger of the predator world, thunderstorms ... everything you would expect in the spring of year in the rolling Appalachian mountains.  Animals re-emerging after the rage of a storm with the rushing water.  Gentle breezes blow.  Nine min and 20 sec ... little animals bounding all around - bugs, beavers, then ... at 10 min and 20 sec - the bears and big beasties; hawks, eagles then roaming heards.  Finally, the great cacaphony at 12 minutes.  The animals hiding ... maybe a gentle shower?  Alert looks around ... fast running rabbits.  A chase and capture (13 and a half min); an escape.  Hide and seek of the animals.  Birds flitting around above.  Continued chase ... maybe the final kill.  Nature in full glory.  The death of one so that another may live (16 min).  The quiet and calm return; trees bend, animals drink at the brook, all is as it should be.  Then, the approach (18 min) of a gorgeous and fiery sunset.  Animals scurry to find their ways home.  Clouds pass quickly by - pink and red as the sun marches to the earth over the next mountain pass.  The  sky is an explosion or gold, red and purple.  Birds are silhouetted against the darkening sky.  The sun drops below the horizon ... the end of a perfectly splendid spring day.  The moon gently rises as the song fades out.

This has to be the most perfect song description of spring ever written.  The most perfect!  Except ...

The song has nothing to do with spring in the sense of a spring day in the mountains.  It was actually a commissioned piece that Copland wrote to celebrate American Heritage.  It was actually a ballet!  It was not even called Appalachian Spring when it was written.  It was about the building of a farm house in the 19th century.  There were 8 parts to the ballet and much choreography, as one might expect in a ballet.  Much of that part of the score was removed when Copland re-issued the piece as we most often hear it played.  The 8 parts are very logical ... introductions of key players, love song for the bride and groom, country preacher and his "flock", scenes of daily life - this is the part where the Shaker song "The Gift to be Simple" is "borrowed" in full (also the theme song for "On the Road with Charles Kuralt", a popular tv magazine of the late 20th century), and, finally, the couple left alone in their new home.

Copland often chuckled whenever anyone remarked to him that the song was such a "perfect description of spring in the mountains".

Enjoy Appalachian Spring (Aaron Copland)