Welcome to the Ether Game Weekly Podcast! We're listening to the voices of the people this week. Our spotlight is on adaptations of folk songs, in an episode we're calling "Vox Populi"! To get you started (or for those of you who just cannot wait for Tuesday nights), you can sharpen your skills with our podcast selection. Remember to keep your ears out for a portion of Tuesday night's Teaser selection. And don't forget to tune into the full show on Tuesday, October 11th at 8:00pm for a chance to win a prize!
Aaron Copland (1900–1990): RODEO: Buckaroo Holiday
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; Erich Kunzel, conductor. The Music of America (Telarc)
After Aaron Copland's success with the 1938 All-American Western ballet Billy the Kid, choreographer Agnes De Mille approached him to compose another ballet she described as "Taming of the Shrew—cowboy style." Copland wasn't so sure. He had just done a cowboy ballet, and didn't want to become the "cowboy ballet" guy. But De Mille eventually won him over and Rodeo was born. As Copland was wont to do, the piece borrowed existing folk tunes. What makes Rodeo unusual is that these borrowed folk tunes are presented relatively unadorned. In the first movement "Buckaroo Holiday," Copland presents the folk songs "If He'd Be A Buckaroo" and "Sis Joe" with very few alterations. This may be because of Agnes De Mille. De Mille choreographed much of the work before the score was completed, and it's been thought that she exerted much of the creative control over the project.