Title
Music for the Theatre
Subtitle
Suite in Five Parts for Small Orchestra
For
chamber orchestra
Year Composed
1925
Scoring
1(=picc).1(=corA).1(=Eb).1-0.2.1.0-perc:glsp/xyl/cyms/wdbl/BD/SD- pft-strings
ARCO Number(s)
10
Category
Orchestral
Duration
22'
Movements
  • I. Prologue
  • II. Dance
  • III. Interlude
  • IV. Burlesque
  • V. Epilogue
Premiere
  • World: Boston, November 20th, 1925 (Boston Symphony Orchestra players, cond. Serge Koussevitzky)
Commission Info
Claire Reis and the League of Composers
Dedication
to Serge Koussevitzky
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes
Publishing Status
Published

Program Note

Determined to find an American sound in music, Copland incorporated jazz idioms into his first orchestral pieces, causing scandal in concert halls in the twenties. These pieces continue to project the energetic rhythms and catchy melodies of jazz in the Roaring Twenties. Music for the Theatre was written for small orchestra with no specific play in mind, but as Copland pointed out, "The music seemed to suggest a certain theatrical atmosphere, so after developing the idea into five short movements, I chose the title."

Author
Vivian Perlis
Year
1998