George Antheil, Walter Piston, Aaron Copland – Spirit of the American Range

Album information

The Spirit of the American Range celebrates the works of one of the musical giants of the 20th century, Aaron Copland, joined with the works of his colleague, Walter Piston — who was, according to Copland, “one of the most expert craftsmen American music can boast” — and the self-proclaimed bad boy of music, George Antheil. Featuring Copland’s Symphony No. 3, Antheil’s Jazz Symphony and Piston’s Suite from “The Incredible Flutist”, this release is undeniably a homage to the distinctive musical characterisation of American themes in a passionate, modern style. As Leonard Bernstein once stated, “Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3 has become an American monument, like the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial”.
The Spirit of the American Range is Oregon Symphony’s third release on PENTATONE. Recorded under Carlos Kalmar’s guidance, they prove throughout the recording that they can easily stand alongside the world’s great orchestras. Oregon Symphony and Carlos Kalmar elevate the release into a testament of the marvellous creations of the new generation of American composers.