Aaron Copland

Aaron Copland was considered America's foremost composer for decades, with his works spanning genres from ballet and orchestral pieces to film scores. His musical development mirrored key trends of his time, moving from early explorations of jazz rhythms and neoclassicism to a simplified style that allowed him to connect with a wider audience via radio and film. In his later career, Copland also embraced twelve-tone techniques, as seen in his composition for the opening of Lincoln Center. After 1970, he ceased composing but continued to lecture and conduct.