Composed in 1942 (while Copland was working on his Third and final symphony… Read Full Bio ↴Composed in 1942 (while Copland was working on his Third and final symphony, which uses a reworked version of the Fanfare extensively in its fourth movement). It was written to a commission by Eugène Goossens, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. According to Copland, Goossens, who had commissioned fanfares from British composers during World War I to begin each orchestral concert, had decided to do so again using American composers. 18 such fanfares were commissioned.
Copland considered several titles including Fanfare for a Solemn Ceremony and Fanfare for Four Freedoms; to Goossens' surprise, however, Copland titled the piece Fanfare for the Common Man. Goossens wrote "Its title is as original as its music, and I think it is so telling that it deserves a special occasion for its performance. If it is agreeable to you, we will premiere it 12 March 1943 at income tax time". Copland's replied that he was "all for honoring the common man at income tax time".
Copland considered several titles including Fanfare for a Solemn Ceremony and Fanfare for Four Freedoms; to Goossens' surprise, however, Copland titled the piece Fanfare for the Common Man. Goossens wrote "Its title is as original as its music, and I think it is so telling that it deserves a special occasion for its performance. If it is agreeable to you, we will premiere it 12 March 1943 at income tax time". Copland's replied that he was "all for honoring the common man at income tax time".
Fanfare for the Common Man
Aaron Copland Lyrics
Instrumental
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@washingtonlass
WHY WOULD YOU CUT IT THERE?! That was one of the BEST performances of that I've heard! Do you KNOW how hard it is to herd brass, let alone get all FIVE trumpets in tune and in unison like that? Lord, put up the whole damn thing....!!!
@artm5294
This the dumbest performance I have ever seen. One a scale of 1 to 10 this has got to be a minus 10! 👎👎👎🇨🇦
@ap2760
It's the time of the Elites now-we have squandered our opportunity
@oldschooldrumcorps
See Drum Corps International or DCI to hear some fantastic young talent perform this and many other Copland compositions while marching and maneuvering in competitions around the U.S., specifically Carolina Crown 2012 performance called “For the Common Good”, which features the “Fanfare For the Common Man” in their competitive production. If you liked the sound of 5 trumpets, try 35 in an outdoor environment with all the challenges of performing in tune, in time and being spatially distanced while executing various drill formations. You just might like it,or at least learn to appreciate another art form expressing the soul and spirit of Aaron Copland’s composition.
@billmcgeemusic
I've been playing Trumpet for 60 years - this is as close to perfect as it comes... much better than Bernstein and the NY Philharmonic's version - Perfect Technique
@kn4cc755
Why would anybody fade out the ending to this magnificent piece? BBC?
@bikedawg
MORONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@KentDonaldson
Really like Copland's music. No one (in my opinion) manages to evokes the amazing wilderness of the US quite like he does.
@AckzaTV
Yes it really does make you feel like you're in the wild west and I'm in san diego lol
@anaccount8474
The opening theme is one of those perfect combination of notes that every composer dreams of writing. It's one of those pieces that you can't imagine not knowing, and which every composer when hearing it for the first time would kick themselves for not thinking of it.