Aaron Copland

Considered by many the greatest American composer of the 20th century, Copland dedicated himself early on in his composing career to seeking and defining a distinctly American sound. His list of works includes ballets, orchestral compositions, film scores, and choral works.

His most popular and best known music includes 'Appalachian Spring', 'Rodeo', and 'Billy the Kid'. Most everyone today is at least familiar with excerpts from Copland's 'Fanfare for the Common Man' due to its wide use in conjunction with theme music for the Olympics, and numerous other commercial applications.

In addition to composing, he was also skilled as a conductor and there are many fine recordings with Copland conducting his own music still available. His lifelong friend Leonard Bernstein also conducted many excellent recorded performances of his work.