The Mexico Connection
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Aaron Copland and Carlos Chávez (Photograph from the Library of Congress)
They were musical ambassadors for their two countries—sharing cross-border influences, supporting each other’s work, and building a lifelong friendship.
In the next hour, how Aaron Copland’s best-known orchestral works were shaped by his close ties with Mexican composer Carlos Chávez—becoming a driving force in the music of both.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
Copland: Appalachian Spring, etc. [for El Salon Mexico] |
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati |
Mercury Living Presence Collector’s Edition 1 |
88697755552 |
Copland: Clarinet Concerto, etc. [for Music for the Theater: Epilogue] |
New York Chamber Symphony, Gerard Schwarz |
EMI CDC 7 49095 2 |
077774909525 |
Mi Alma Mexicana [for Chávez “Horsepower: “El Tropico”] |
Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Alondra de la Parra |
Sony Classical 88697755552 |
886977555527 |
Chávez: Complete Symphonies [for Sinfonía India] |
London Symphony Orchestra, Eduardo Mata |
Brilliant Classics 94858 |
5028421948584 |
Música Mexicana [for Chávez Dark Meadow/ Daughter of Colchis] |
Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México, Fernando Lozano |
Forlane UCD 16688/16689 |
3399242166887 |
Copland: Billy the Kid, etc. [for Street in a Frontier Town, Mexican Dance & Finale] |
BBC Symphony, Leonard Slatkin |
BBC Music MM98 |
[none] |
Chavez: Piano Concerto, etc. [for “Meditacion”] |
Jorge Federico Osorio |
Cedille CDR 90000 140 |
735131914024 |
Copland: Music for Films [for The Red Pony] |
Saint Louis Symphony, Leonard Slatkin |
RCA Victor Red Seal 09026-61699-2 |
090266169924 |
Copland - Collection - Late Orchestral Works (1948-1971) [for Latin American Sketches] |
Detroit Symphony, Leonard Slatkin |
Sony SM2K 47236 |
07464472362 |
Copland - Piano Concerto, Tender Land, Old American Songs [for end music only] |
Howard Hanson |
Naxos 8.559297 |
636943929728 |
Copland: Orchestral Works 1 – Ballets [for El Salon Mexico opening, break & promo music, and Appalachian Spring] |
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, John Wilson |
Chandos CHAN 5164 |
095115516423 |