Portraits Of Freedom

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is a mixture of choral and orchestral music by two great American composers, music that can only be described as patriotic. But don't let that keep you away from Copland's heartbreaking Lincoln Portrait or Roy Harris's much-neglected American Creed. James Earl Jones supplies the narration in Lincoln Portrait. American Creed is filled with Harris's usual open harmonies and melodic expansiveness and is actually a very complex triple fugue. The miking for this entire recording isn't as close to the orchestra or clear as it could be, but this is a great collection nonetheless. --Paul Cook

Portraits Of Freedom, Music, Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, Gerard Schwarz, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, 20th/21st Century Overture, Band, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Concert/Brass/Marching Band Music, Miscellaneous, Music with Spoken Words, Orchestral, Secular Choral Music

Portraits Of Freedom: Music of Aaron Copland and Roy Harris
Average customer rating:

The True Spirit Of America

Great Lesser-known Masterpieces

James Earl Jones Is SUPURB

Great Fourth of July album

Perfect collection of patriotic fare.

Portraits Of Freedom: Music of Aaron Copland and Roy Harris
Aaron Copland , Roy Harris , Gerard Schwarz , Seattle Symphony Orchestra , James Earl Jones , and Seattle Chorale
Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Harris | Harris, Roy | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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Copland: Old American Songs/Canticle Of Freedom/Four Motets

Copland: Music for Films

Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait; Old American Songs

Copland: The Music of America

ASIN: B0000006YT
Release Date: 1994-05-03

Tracks:

Fanfare For The Common Man
Lincoln Portrait
Canticle Of Freedom
An Outdoor Overture
American Creed: Free To Dream
American Creed: Free To Build
When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Amazon.com

This is a mixture of choral and orchestral music by two great American composers, music that can only be described as patriotic. But don't let that keep you away from Copland's heartbreaking Lincoln Portrait or Roy Harris's much-neglected American Creed. James Earl Jones supplies the narration in Lincoln Portrait. American Creed is filled with Harris's usual open harmonies and melodic expansiveness and is actually a very complex triple fugue. The miking for this entire recording isn't as close to the orchestra or clear as it could be, but this is a great collection nonetheless. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

The True Spirit Of America.......2006-05-18

It is often the case that the true spirit of America can be found in the artists it has given the world throughout history. And no composer embodies our nation's spirit much better than Aaron Copland, as can be gauged on this Delos recording of works by him and fellow American composer Roy Harris, as performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra under music director Gerard Schwarz.

The true essence of patriotism, a term too often used for less-than-honorable ends by certain political operatives throughout history, is very evident in both Copland's and Harris' works. Harris is represented by the intensely proud two-part work "American Creed", and his 1935 overture "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", based on the famous World War I song. It is also evident in Copland's rarely heard "Canticle Of Freedom", which here is sung by the Seattle Symphony Chorale.

It is in the three popular Copland pieces--"Fanfare For The Common Man"; "Lincoln Portrait"; and "An Outdoor Overture"--that the best of America lies. The towering brass chorale of "Fanfare" symbolizes, as its title surely indicates, the ability of the common man to achieve the uncommon; while "An Outdoor Overture", written in the 1930s for the Manhattan High School of Music & Art, celebrates American youth. And then there's "Lincoln Portrait", with the words of our 16th president spoken by James Earl Jones, one of our country's greatest actors and voices, with great strength and authority, allowing us to know that while we may be the greatest nation on Earth, we can ALWAYS be better. Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony provide masterful performances throughout this stunning 1992 recording. This is highly recommended for anyone wanting to know the true spirit of our nation beyond the constant and often wreckless political rhetoric that so often abounds here.

Great Lesser-known Masterpieces.......2005-11-03

Portraits of Freedom is a CD featuring works by Aaron Copland and Roy Harris which have a special emphasis on democracy. Not just a "hack" American music CD, features include the very well known to some virtually unknown compositions making this a welcome addition to the Copland/Harris recorded music oeuvre.

Fanfare for the Common Man brings nothing new, but it is such a great miniature. Less recorded is the Lincoln Portrait. Copland opens with a slow triumphant fanfare melody which gives way to a faster "Camptown Races" melody and brilliantly weaves the two together. The piece ends with a dramatic reading by James Earl Jones.

Canticle of Freedom, rarely heard, features chorus. The music and text are interesting enough to wonder why it has been neglected. Along with the Outdoor Overture, Copland uses not only uses his trademark rhythms and harmonies, but dissonance is judiciously placed to give his music an American experience.

Roy Harris' American Creed and When Johnny Comes Marching Home are also rarely heard, nonetheless recorded. Harris' music is a bit more ponderous than that of Copland, and while Harris sticks with more classical formal designs, it is interesting to note the many harmonic and orchestration similarities which exist between the two composers. Harris' energetic "When Johnny..." is also very interesting, especially when compared to the more famous American Salute by Morton Gould.

The liner notes are voluminous accounts into the background of Copland. You really get the gist of how close he was to music and patriotism and how that evolved throughout the 20th Century. The Seattle Symphony plays well on this disk; you can tell they have a real feel of the music. While you can find better recordings of Fanfare and the Outdoor Overture, you can't beat this Lincoln Portrait, and you probably won't find the other works anywhere else, especially so well performed. Copland was serious about music and democracy and it shows in these works; the lesser known ones are greatly eclipsed by his more famous works, and so you probably have to be a Copland junkie to buy this CD. In that case, this will be an easy buy for you!

James Earl Jones Is SUPURB.......2004-10-02

I have listened to several recordings of the Lincoln Portait narrated by Henry Fonda, Carl Sandberg and Katherine Hepburn. James Earl Jones surpases all of them by a wide margin. Every word James speaks comes from his heart and it is a moving experience.

An interesting note: Every speaker since James reads the following line, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." with the emphasis on the words "of", "by" and "for". When James reads it he shift the emphasis to the word "people" each time and it makes an impressive difference. He is masterful. I've must have played this piece at least 10 times since I received it a week ago.

Buy it!

Jeff

Great Fourth of July album.......2003-01-11

If you buy this CD, you'll probably do so for Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait." You won't be disappointed, either, for this is one of the best renditions of that particular symphonic war-horse in print. It's well performed, and James Earl Jones's majestic voice transcends the kitschier aspects of Copland's narration.

"Fanfare for the Common Man" is also here in all its brassy glory, although if you're like me you've heard it so often it gives you a headache. But in all likelihood you haven't heard the other Copland works on this CD: "Canticle of Freedom" and the seldom-performed "An Outdoor Overture." "An Outdoor Overture" is second-tier Copland -- a pleasant symphonic poem, nothing too remarkable. "Canticle of Freedom," on the other hand, exemplifies Copland's worst tendencies as a composer; most of it is just noisy and not musically interesting.

The real surprise here is Roy Harris's three-movement "American Creed," which is both inspiring and musically sound. It is a patriotic symphony that mostly avoids bombast, and it ought to be performed far more often. Harris is a much underrated composer, and this is one of his best works.

On the whole, this CD is a smashing good classical music collection for a Flag Day or Fourth of July holiday -- or for any time you just want to celebrate being an American.

Perfect collection of patriotic fare........1999-10-14

The inclusion of Copland's "Fanfare" and "A Lincoln Portrait" into a CD such as this is a no-brainer, but these recordings are the best of their kind--tremendous sound, and the quintessential narrator in Jones to complete it. Schwarz also blesses us with one of Copland's little-known choral works that sends a powerful patriotic message, and the "Outdoor Overture" is simply Copland at his jovial best at the prime of his composing career. The selected Harris works add further impact to the disc: the only recording available of "American Creed," along with Harris' unforgettable interpretation of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," round it out wonderfully. The Roy Harris works may be the true highlight of the disc--if that's possible. Another splendid job by Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony.