Appalachian Spring

Aaron Copland composed the music in 1944 specifically for the pioneering modern choreographer Martha Graham. Graham choreographed the dance and performed the lead role of the Bride. The world premiere took place on October 30, 1944, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., utilizing a very small stage.

The climax of the score famously incorporates the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts," specifically the melody written by Joseph Brackett in 1848. Copland utilizes the tune for a series of stunning instrumental variations. The inclusion of the Shaker melody forever tied the music to American pioneer culture.

No, because the premiere at the Library of Congress had very limited space behind the stage, Copland was forced to score the original 1944 ballet for a chamber ensemble of exactly 13 instruments. This included a single flute, clarinet, bassoon, piano, and a small string section. Copland later arranged a full orchestral suite in 1945, which is the version most commonly heard today.

Aaron Copland did not actually come up with the title; he simply referred to the piece as "Ballet for Martha." The choreographer, Martha Graham, selected the name "Appalachian Spring" from a poem by Hart Crane shortly before the 1944 premiere. The title refers to a source of water, symbolizing life and renewal, rather than the geographic Appalachian mountains.