Rossmoor resident Steven Lowe and popular lecturer will present a program on American composer Aaron Copland (1900–1990), named by Leonard Bernstein as our nation’s “greatest composer.” After studying in Paris in the 1920s Copland returned to the United States and wrote some of the most popular classical music of the 20th century including such beloved scores as Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid and Rodeo. Though born in Brooklyn he essentially defined the “sound” of the American West, bequeathing a style that conveys the rugged beauty and vast open spaces of our continent. Virtually every film composer writing soundtracks for Westerns has borrowed heavily from Copland’s original and evocative music. Steve’s talk will include recorded excerpts from Copland’s irresistible scores.

This course continues from the Introduction course (last taught in Spring 2023). Topics covered will be planning research, gathering evidence, and using church, cemetery, and newspaper records. The Introductory course covered getting started, vital records, census records, and organizing the research.