"After Paris, Copland started to search for a way to connect his music to his environment; it was not until his first trip to Mexico (1932) that he found how.

"Copland was in a position to help many of his colleagues. And he did. Many Latin American composers were published, had doors opened to them, and are on the map today, thanks to Copland.  But I believe that an equal, if not greater legacy as a result of Copland's travels to Latin America was the voice Copland finally found within him.

" The characteristic Copland sound that helped put the United States on major concert halls throughout the world is not the sound of Appalachia alone; it is the sound of the Americas. ”

John Schaeffer, who devoted half of his “Sound Check” November 14th broadcast on WNYC to Copland and Mexico, stated that “ Copland was an American composer, meaning from the Americas.”  The program included interviews with Michael Boriskin, Artistic Director of Copland House and some of the participating musicians, and a segment on Silvestre Revueltas with interviews with composers Tania León and Max Lifchitz, both members of the Americas Society Music Advisory Board.

The program for Copland &… Mexico!, performed by Music from Copland House, the acclaimed ensemble-in-residence at Aaron Copland’s restored, longtime home near New York City, included music by Aaron Copland (El Salón México and Sextet for string quartet, clarinet & piano), Carlos Chávez (Spirals for violin and piano), Silvestre Revueltas (Four Pieces for two violins and cello, and selected songs), Blas Galindo (Tres Canciones for soprano and piano), Samuel Zyman (Sonata for Flute and Piano) and the New York Premiere of Daniel Catán’s Encantamiento in its version for flute and violin.

After the intermission, there was a panel discussion with pianist Michael Boriskin, Artistic Director of Copland House; Ms. Angier Peavy, Chief of Cultural Programs, Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges of the U. S. State Department and former U.S. Cultural Affairs Officer in Mexico City; and Mexican composers Samuel Zyman, Alejandro Escuer and Max Lifchitz. The panel was moderated by Conductor/Flutist MariaElena Tobón, Music Director of The Americas Society.

Artist members of Music from Copland House include pianist and Copland House Artistic Director Michael Boriskin, flutist Paul Lustig Dunkel, clarinetist Derek Bermel, and cellist Wilhelmina Smith. They were joined by several outstanding guest artists including soprano Susan Narucki, violinists Curtis Macomber and Deborah Buck, and violist Leslie Tomkins.

Next season this important, not-to-be-missed series will continue with Copland, Cuba & the Caribbean. Future seasons will bring programs of Copland & Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

Other Americas Society concerts scheduled 
for the rest of the 2002-2003 season