American Music on the Glorious Fourth!
American music for your Fourth of July. Photo courtesy photos-public-domain.com
Two conductors who were vital in promoting American music in the last century were Serge Koussevitzky, born in Russia, and Howard Hanson, born in Wahoo, Nebraska. Koussevitzky championed the music of Aaron Copland, as well as that of Hanson, who was himself an important composer. Hanson, who was head of the Eastman School of Music for 40 years gave the premiers of hundreds of work by American composers. On Saturday at 11, we will sample American music conducted by these two maestros.