Promise of Living (arr. Curnow)

Aaron Copland

Subtitle: From The Tender Land

General Info

Year: 1954 / 2012
Duration: c. 4:40
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Cost: Score and Parts - $60.00 | Score Only - $7.50

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bells
Crash Cymbals
Marimba (optional)
Xylophone (optional)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This classic Copland work has been skillfully adapted for younger players while maintaining the integrity of the original. Solo lines and chamber-like playing are beautifully offset with rich, full ensemble passages. A marvelous addition to the repertoire of classic adaptations for young bands.

- Program Note from publisher

The name Aaron Copland (1900-1990) is synonymous with American classical music. His most popular works, Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Rodeo, Fanfare for the Common Man, and El Salon Mexico, each infused a sense of folk music with his distinctive compositional style that was able to connect with a wide audience. Although written later than the aforementioned works, The Promise of Living is representative of this same distinctive Copland style. The work serves as the final movement of an orchestral suite Copland based on his opera The Tender Land.

This beautiful piece is quite transparent and chamber-like at its outset. As the work builds, Copland dramatically introduces the folk song Zion’s Walls and begins to alter the feel between duple and triple quite frequently. The melodies intertwine and overlap as the piece builds to its striking climax.

James Curnow’s arrangement for young band is a skillful adaptation maintaining the integrity and musical challenges of the original while being technically accessible to younger musicians.

- Program Note by McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band concert program, 18 December 2013

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Annual Conference of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (Lee Hartman, conductor) – 26 May 2018
Indiana State University Wind Symphony (Nikk Pilato, conductor) - 5 April 2018
Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Nathan Conrad, conductor) – 8 May 2016
McCracken Middle School (Skokie, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Chip De Stefano, conductor) – 18 December 2013 (2013 Midwest Clinic)
Maryland All-State Junior Band ( Susan Taylor, conductor) - 2013

Works for Winds by This Composer

Appalachian Spring (arr. Morita) (1944)
Appalachian Spring (arr. Patterson) (1944)
Buckaroo Holiday from "Rodeo" (tr. Megan) (1941/2000)
Buckaroo Holiday from "Rodeo" (tr. Sudduth) (1941)
Canticle of Freedom (arr. Duffy) (2000)
Celebration (arr. Lang) (1938/1945)
Ceremonial Fanfare
A Copland Portrait (arr. Grundman) (1986)
A Copland Tribute (arr. Grundman) (1986)
Danzón Cubano (tr. Rogers) (1949/2000)
Down a Country Lane (tr. Patterson) (1962/1991)
El Salón México (tr. Hindsley) (1939/1972)
Emblems (1964)
Excerpts from "Appalachian Spring" (arr. Longfield) (1944)
Fanfare for the Common Man (1942/1944)
Fanfare for the Common Man (arr. Longfield) (1942/1944/2007)
Finale from "Symphony No. 3" (trans. Patterson) (1946/)
Hoe Down from "Rodeo" (arr. Moss)
Hoe Down from "Rodeo" (tr. Rogers)
Inaugural Fanfare
Laurie's Song (tr. Martin) (1954/ )
Laurie's Song (arr. Silbert and Buchanan) (1954/ )
Letter from Home (arr. Belski) (1944)
A Lincoln Portrait (tr. Beeler) (1942/1951)
Old American Songs (arr. Moss) (1950/2006)
Old American Songs I (arr. Silvester) (1950/2001)
Old American Songs II (arr. Duffy) (1952/2001)
Our Town (arr. Singleton)
An Outdoor Overture (1938/1948)
Preamble for a Solemn Occasion (1949/1974)
The Promise of Living (arr. Curnow) (1954/2012)
The Promise of Living (tr. Duffy) (1954/2000)
The Promise of Living (tr. Hile) (1954)
The Promise of Living (tr. Singleton) (1954/2002)
Quiet City (arr. Hunsberger) (1941/1992)
The Red Pony (1969)
Scenes from "Billy the Kid" (arr. Hilliard) (1941/2000)
Stomp Your Foot (tr. Duffy) (1954/1956/2000)
Symphony No. 3. See: Finale from "Symphony No. 3"
Themes from "An Outdoor Overture" (arr. Curnow) (1938/2014)
Three Excerpts from "Our Town" and "Simple Gifts" (arr. Cohen)
Three Latin American Sketches (arr. Mikkelson) (1972/2021)
Variations on a Shaker Melody (1960)
Waltz and Celebration (arr. Lang) (1944/1972)

Resources

"New Music Reviews." The Instrumentalist. October 2016, 31.