Aaron Copland: The Music Within

Aaron Copland was a fine pianist: he premiered his own “Jazz” Piano Concerto in 1926. As he continued to write for the instrument throughout his illustrious career, he increasingly turned to other pianists for the interpretation of his music. On October 25th of 1957, pianist William Masselos gave Copland’s Piano Fantasy its first performance in New York City. Dear to the composer’s heart, he originally subtitled it ‘The Music Within.’ In commemoration of the 62nd anniversary of the work’s premiere, pianist/composer Adam Sherkin presents the Piano Fantasy alongside his own music written especially for the occasion: Prelude: “The Music Within,” and Postlude: “The Music Beyond,” both world premieres.

THE PROGRAM:

Scherzo humoristique: The Cat and the Mouse (1920)
Midsummer Nocturne (1947) The Young Pioneers (1935)
by Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Two Aubades after Copland, Op.24 No.2 (2016)
Punch, Revisited, Op.28 (2016)
Northern Frames, Op.15 (2015)
by Adam Sherkin (b. 1982)

~ INTERMISSION ~

Prelude: “The Music Within” (2019)* by Adam Sherkin
PIANO FANTASY (1955-57) by Aaron Copland
Postlude: “The Music Beyond” (2019)* by Adam Sherkin

*World premieres