Is the 75th Birthday of Appalachian Spring going to pass unnoticed? Not on my watch!

Appalachian Spring is a pivotal work of 20th century music. In a collaboration that was made in heaven, it brought together two giants of composition and choreography, Aaron Copland and Martha Graham just at the point when they were at the zenith of their creative powers.

The work was premiered at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. on October 30th 1944. Graham danced the lead role, the sparse set was designed by Isamu Noguchi and Copland’s score for a small chamber ensemble of 13 instruments was conducted by Louis Horst. It was an immediate success. Fellow composer Carlos Chavez summed up the piece as the “hit of a lifetime” and it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Copland later shortened the score and expanded the orchestration for the popular suite version and the rest is history. Its gorgeous tapestry of sound is on one hand so evocative of stately mountains, big skies and open landscapes whilst on the other it implies a quiet strength and dignity and the promise of new beginnings. It is probably the most treasured piece in the entire lexicon of American classical music.

On the day before Halloween and Brexit this year Appalachian Spring celebrates its 75th Birthday! For such a revered work you would expect much Fanfare. One might expect the ballet to be performed at major venues around the world or at least the anniversary to be marked by a special concert on the day Copland and Graham bestowed their Simple Gifts to the world?

Well it appears not. What a great shame and what an opportunity that could be missed.

Let me clarify a few things. In the latter half of October until the end of November according to the Boosey and Hawkes (Copland’s publisher) and the Bachtrack (concert listing website) there are going to be 18 concerts around the world that include Appalachian Spring. These are in Spain, Columbia, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria and a couple of performances in St Paul, Missouri. In addition, the full ballet will be performed by the Martha Graham Dance Company in New Jersey between 14-17 November and excerpts will be danced by Ballet Mönchengladbach as part of the Living in America dance spectacular choreographed by Robert North which has 14 dates between now and May 2020.

OK that sounds more like it. However, personally I would still like to see quite a bit of fuss being made on the actual birthday itself.