The NPO’s ‘American Legends and Brahms’
The Nashville Philharmonic recently wrapped up their spectacular opening to the 2024-2025 season. The program, titled “American Legends and Brahms” was an excellent featuring works by Aaron Copland, Joan Tower, Jennifer Higdon and of course, Johannes Brahms. This concert was a combination of exciting well-known material and an introduction to some lesser known works by American composers. Overall, the concert was engaging, powerful and exciting to witness. The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra opened the concert with one of Copland’s most known pieces, Fanfare for the Common Man. Written as a part of a collection of fanfares written for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1942, the piece was named after a line from a speech delivered by the current Vice President of the time, Henry A. Wallace. Wallace said it was the dawning of “The Century of the Common Man” in his speech leading to the inspiration for Copland. This fanfare is simple, triumphant, and quite in your face at times. Composed solely for brass and percussion it was interesting to see an orchestra concert open without strings. The brass section lived up to the call and really showed off for this piece. The horns especially were loud and proud throughout. IRead More
