A. Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man

In order to make an important and moving contribution to the war effort during World War II, the English conductor and composer Eugene Goossens called upon several American composers for the composition of a fanfare (a short composition written for brass instruments) that would open every concert of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the 1942-1943 season. Goossens was then serving as the orchestra's musical director and his intention was to replicate the experience carried out during the First War, with British composers.

The reception
Goosens' initiative was warmly welcomed by eighteen American composers who responded by contributing an equal number of compositions. Goosens had suggested ingenious titles such as "fanfare for the soldiers", or "for the airmen" and others of similar inventiveness.

Copland's contribution

Goosens was pleasantly surprised with the work proposed by the Jewish composer of Russian origin, Aaron Copland, who had studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in 1921 and had been closely acquainted with the compositions of Stravinski, Darius Milhaud, and others. He had also become a great admirer of French literature, particularly that of André Gide, a future Nobel Prize winner.

Coplan entitled his work "Fanfare for the common man".

Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990)

Fanfare for the Common Man

Out of the eighteen works that opened the concerts of that season, Copland's splendid title is the only one that has not passed into oblivion. In addition to being part of the traditional orchestral repertoire, it has been the subject of countless rewrites and quotations by various popular groups, the first in 1977 by the British rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan would continue to recreate the piece, freely, opening their shows with it, as in its genesis.

Copland himself, after the war, adopted the work as the introduction to the fourth movement of his Third Symphony.

The work, a must in any festive ceremony of our days, is written for four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, and gong.

The performance is by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by James Levine.