Fanfare for the Common Man

Aaron Copland (1900-1991) is noted today for his creation of a recognizable “American” sound marked by simple, slow-changing harmonies, lush orchestrations, and memorable melodies. Of course, we should not forget that his style evolved to embrace many other trends. But the expansive, optimistic mood of works like Appalachian Spring, On the Town, and Fanfare for the Common Man remains the most recognized dialect in Copland’s voice. The Fanfare, moreover, has become an oft-quoted soundbyte used in all manner of broadcasts—from news to sports to advertisements. The work was commissioned by Eugene Goosens, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony, and composed in 1942 to memorialize—but not celebrate—America’s entry into World War II. The simple main theme bears a similarity to Taps, the traditional bugle call used at military funerals. As the Fanfare is usually heard in non-concert settings, most listeners may know only the first minute or so. The later material, punctuated by timpani blasts, is richly harmonized for full brass and winds and has become an unofficial anthem for American heroism.

(c) Jason Stell