Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Heckscher Museum in Huntington, New York, this fresh and engaging look at a great American composer reveals a little-known but critically important passion in his life: cherished friendships with some of the most remarkable artists of the twentieth century, many of whom had a significant influence on Copland's music throughout his long and illustrious career. There are two essays, one that focuses on Copland's interactions with the art world (visual and otherwise), the other on his music. The book looks at how the composer's fascination with folk and popular culture, native arts, jazz, cinema, and the search for an American national art gave form to his music, which sprang not only from his personal talent but also from connections to the powerful creative forces around him. Also documented are Copland's friendships with painters such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Diego Rivera; choreographers Martha Graham and Agnes de Mille; and writers Hart Crane, Gertrude Stein, and others. Appalachian Spring and other great Copland works are discussed in context, with photos of ballets and films for which Copland composed included. Paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures by Picasso, de Kooning, Noguchi, and others suggest the parallels between Copland's genius and that of his fellow artists.
