Preamble for a Solemn Occasion – watch the EUYO and Marin Alsop

I love it when I find rare Copland pieces on YouTube especially when the production values are really good! It really helps me pinpoint the sounds of different instruments and gives me a new level of appreciation for Copland as an orchestrator. A few weeks ago I came across this new version of Preamble for a Solemn Occasion (Hymn for the United Nations) which Copland was commissioned to write for the occasion of the 1st Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights back in 1949.

It’s a stunning rendition by the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO). It’s conducted by Marin Alsop who also narrates. You can find more musical gems on their YouTube channel EUYO Digital.