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GREAT PERFORMANCES: NOW HEAR THIS: Copland: Dean of American Music

Scott Yoo (second on left) explores the life and work of Aaron Copland, and how he created the American sound.
Courtesy of Arcos Film & Music
Scott Yoo (second on left) explores the life and work of Aaron Copland, and how he created the American sound.

Premieres Friday, April 22, 2022 at 9 p.m. and Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m. on KPBS 2 / On demand

Drawing from his Jewish roots, modernism and American folk music, Pulitzer-, Grammy- and Oscar-winning composer Aaron Copland created a distinctive American sound in both his classical compositions and film scores. Like Copland did for much of his career, host Scott Yoo and fellow musicians spend time working with students at a music festival in Colorado to strengthen their auditioning skills and better understand Copland’s music.

The Jewish Tune That Inspired Composer Aaron Copland

To discover Copland’s inspiration, Yoo travels to New York to explore the Jewish music Copland was raised with as well as modernist music through performances by Cantor Daniel Mutlu, violinist Steven Copes, cellist Mark Kosower, festival music director and pianist Susan Grace and more. Later, Yoo becomes the student and learns from pianist and Copland enthusiast John Novacek about how the composer developed his signature sound, now so familiar to us all.

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Places visited: Colorado Springs, Colorado; New York, New York

Related: 5 Audition Tips to You from Yoo

Aaron Copland's Ideas on Film Scores

Watch On Your Schedule:

"Copland: Dean of American Music" premieres Friday, April 22 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV, at pbs.org/nowhearthis, and on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.

Extend your viewing window with KPBS Passport, a benefit for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.