For a different side (no pun intended) of Copland, you should listen to his Organ Symphony. It is not the usual "Americana" style of his Appalachian Spring or Billy the Kid. In fact, if it wasn't for some of the rhythms in the second movement, you would never be able to guess that this is a Copland work, or an American work for that matter. It sounds very early 20th century Europe, maybe due to the influence his teacher Nadia Boulanger exerted on him when he was studying composition.

Written when Copland was only 24 as a submission for an exam, it shows a very serious, dark, even profound side of Copland. A critic at the time had written: "If a man this young can write music like this, than surely within five years he will commit murder or suicide." It is a very powerful piece of music with moments of brooding and quiet interplay between the organ and orchestra and moments of tremendous force with the organ, a C.B. Fisk, Opus 100, 4 manual, 4,535 pipe instrument in full battle with the orchestra for supremacy. I recommend this recording 100%.

Jean-Yves Duperron