Copland: Fanfare For America [DVD] [2011] [Region 1] [NTSC]

This hour-long film contains new footage of the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Frankfurt playing Copland, Howard Pollack (who wrote Aaron Copland: THE LIFE AND WORK OF AN UNCOMMON MAN (Music in American Life)) discussing elements of Copland's music and life, Hugh Wolff (conductor) offering his thoughts, and some archive footage of the composer in interview, rehearsal and performance. It's essentially chronological and focuses on selected, representative works. One thing to note is the narration is in German - which I had not realized - but all the interviews are in English. English, French, German and Spanish subtitles are optional choices on the DVD. There are no extra features on the DVD. As I have used this as part of a music class, one of the best things is the length of the music played by the RSOF. These are the DVD chapters [with my comments/attempt to summarize each section]: 1.Fanfare for the Common Man [complete performance with interesting camera angles and staging, 2.Hoe-Down from Rodeo [almost all of the music], 3.Childhood and Youth in Brooklyn, 4.Musical education and composing [goes to Paris, studies with Nadia Boulanger], 5.Third Symphony, Mahler's influence [Mahler's influence is really only a passing reference, although I suppose you can hear influence in the orchestration in the example played], 6.Pep and zip, the American style of music, 7.Clarinet Concerto, with Benny Goodman [footage of Benny Goodman playing with Copland conducting], 8.Life and work in New York City [Copland moves around a lot, composes a number of significant pieces in room 1040 in the Empire Hotel], 9.Appalachian Spring, Ballet for Martha [interesting commentary from Copland about formation of this piece], 10.Copland's Philosophy of life [McCarthyism is mentioned along with the fact that some of Copland's works were banned at this time], 11.Lincoln Portrait, conducted by Leonard Bernstein [archive performance of a part of the work], 12.Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson, musical poetry [Copland, after writing mostly instrumental music, finds Emily Dickinson; sections performed by Stella Doufexis & RSOF], 13.El Salon Mexico, travel around the world [Copland went anywhere he was asked, promoted travel], 14.Connotations, a new Copland sound [written for the opening of the Lincoln Center, Hugh Wolff suggested it was not a hit with JFK, or anyone else], 15.Artistical testimony, 16.End credits.