Discussing and analyzing one of the greatest American composers, Aaron Copland’s, symphony piece “Fanfare for the Common Man”, it is necessary to point out that it uses the open orchestral sound (considered as the typical American music style) to create the cheerful and the majestic mood. Originally this work was created to support the patriotic spirit during the period of World War II. According to Ned Rorem, Copland’s friend from the Tanglewood, “Aaron brought leanness [in musical scoring] to America, which set the tone for our musical language throughout the war. Thanks largely to Aaron, American music came into its own. (Copland, Perlis, 1984, p. 63).”
Following this, one may point out that, although the song itself is a brief musical piece, it is a stirring and headlong work. “Fanfare for the Common Man” is performed by the Symphony Orchestra. Here, it is interesting to note that first time, in 1942, this symphony was played by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, with its famous conductor Eugene Goossen.
The embracing title of the song and the nobility of its eternal theme made it one of the most famous symphony musical works. Moreover, the song remains popular nowadays. It would be relevant to note that later on the “Fanfare for the Common Man” was successfully incorporated into Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3.
Keeping in mind Aaron Copland’s essay “How We Listen to Music”, one may firmly assert that the fanfares’ instruments were masterly picked up by the author of the song. The sounds of the brass instruments flow from one another. The trumpets and the percussions create the majestic feeling of bravery, courage and pride.
If one listens attentively, then one can easily recognize the phonation of the four French horns in F tone that call with the tuba to one another. It is also easy to recognize the sounding of the three trumpets in B (bemol) tone that set the pitch of the song.
The tree trombones melodically respond to the staccato bass drum and the sonorous timpani. And finally the last instrument in the least, but not the last according to its significance – the gong, or so-called tam-tam that cheers everybody up and it might seem that it calls the audience to perform the patriotic deeds.
The title of the song determines its content. When then Goossen, the conductor of the Orchestra wrote to Copland, “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 reply was “I [am] all for honoring the common man at income tax time.” (Copland, Perlis, 1984, p. 85).
The key theme of this masterpiece lies in every single person’s acknowledgment that, being just a common man or woman, she or he can do something patriotic, and this patriotic deed would of course deserve the fanfares, even someone might think that it was little and unnoticeable. “Fanfare for the Common Man” raises common human’s personal estimation, and such person feels that being ordinary and common does not mean that someone is helpless and can not do anything patriotic. This song raises people’s patriotism and their spirit, helps them to recover their own potential, to believe in their own force and capability of making changes for good and of contributing to the common cause of their motherland.
Works Cited
Copland, Aaron & Perlis, Vivian. Copland 1900 Through 1942. Chicago: St. Martin’s Press, 1984.