- Title
- Our Town
- Subtitle
- Music from the film score
- For
- orchestra
- Year Composed
- 1940
- Year Modified
- 1944 (revised)
- Scoring
- 3(2).2(1).corA.3(III=bcl).2-3.3.2.1-perc:glsp-strings
- ARCO Number(s)
- 41.4
- Category
- Orchestral
- Duration
- 11'
- Premiere
- World: Boston, MA, May 7th, 1944 (The Boston Pops Orchestra, cond. Leonard Bernstein)
- Dedication
- To Leonard Bernstein
- Publisher
- Boosey & Hawkes
- Publishing Status
- Published
- Suite From
- Our Town (for reduced orchestra) (1940)
- Arrangements
- Our Town (for saxophone choir) (arr. Paul Cohen)
Program Note
With the threat of impending war, Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, with its look back at an America of homespun values, was tremendously appealing. Copland accepted the invitation to compose the musical score for the screen version of life in the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. He explained, "For the film version, they were counting on the music to translate the transcendental aspects of the story. I tried for clean and clear sounds and in general used straight-forward harmonies and rhythms that would project the serenity and sense of security of the story." Copland arranged about ten minutes from the film score for a suite. It is dedicated to Leonard Bernstein.
- Author
- Vivian Perlis
- Year
- 1998
