Explore well-known works and discover new treasures of the musical repertory in our Guided Listening sessions with JoAnna Cochenet.
Our first stop on our tour of the western American landscape focuses on Virgil Thomson’s music from the 1936 short documentary film The Plow that Broke the Plains, which shone a light on the cultivation of North America’s Great Plains following the US Civil War and leading to the Dust Bowl. We’ll also delve into one of Aaron Copland’s quintessential ballets based on the Wild West, Billy the Kid.
In each session, we’ll closely examine the music through clues and information left by the composer and inferred from their life, performance practice, and other historical and relative means. Please listen to the pieces at least once before coming to the sessions to help prepare your ears, mind, and thoughts for the conversation about the works.
Listen to Aaron Copland’s Billy the Kid on YouTube
Listen to Virgil Thomson’s The Plow that Broke the Plains on YouTube
This event takes place online over Zoom. The link to join the Zoom will be provided the week of the event.
Check out all our of this year’s Guided Listening sessions on American Landscape: Wonders of the Wild West.