Hoe Down From Rodeo

“Hoe down” From The Ballet Rodeo By: Aaron Copland

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History  Aaron Copland wrote the ballet Rodeo. Copland was born in Brooklyn, New York. He studied piano and later studied composition when he travelled to France. Rodeo was written in the Modern Period (1900 –1990) The ballet was first performed at the Boston Pops in 1943. Classified - Internal use

FACTS! Aaron Copland was one of America’s most famous composers The story is about a cowgirl who tries to impress the head wrangler on the ranch. The woodblock makes a “clip-clop” sound of a horse running. This is Aaron Copland -> Classified - Internal use

Facts #2 This is programme music – music that tells a story. There are four sections in the work Rodeo:  Buckaroo Holiday  Corral Nocturne  Saturday Night Waltz  Hoe Down

Hoe Down is one section in this work. Classified - Internal use

The Instruments The instruments used in this movement include instruments from the Percussion, String, Brass and Woodwind family. Here is a piece of music from Hoe Down that is played by violins.

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The Story  The story is based on cowboy life in America.  A tomboyish cowgirl, who is trying to attract the attention of the head wrangler.  She goes to the Saturday night dance.  She is invited to dance by both the head wrangler and the champion roper.  She chooses the champion roper.  The music in Hoe Down captures the drama of this scene. Classified - Internal use

Structure  The form of this piece is A, B, Link, A.  The piece starts with the Introduction. This lasts for 38 bars.  Section A (from bar 39 to 97.)  Section B (from bar 98 to 141.)  The Link (from bar 142 to158.)  The piece then goes back to Section A. (from bar 159 to 194.) Classified - Internal use

Section A Section A consists of two different sections:  Bonyparte tune – section 1  Bonyparte tune – section 2

Bonyparte tune – section 1: This has the same rhythm pattern as the opening bars of the tune. Bonyparte tune – section 2: This is a completely different rhythm pattern. Classified - Internal use

Section B Section B also consists of two different sections:  McLeod’s Reel 1  McLeod’s Reel 2

Section B begins with McLeod’s Reel 1. It then changes to McLeod’s Reel 2 and then back to McLeod’s Reel 1.

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Link This is the section that sounds like the “clip-clop” of a horse. The woodblock is used to make this sound. The sound is made realistic by using pizzicato and staccato.

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Features Polyphonic – different melodies are played all at the one time. Ascending and descending scales. Syncopated notes : emphasis on the weak beat Dynamics: quite (piano) at the beginning and loud (forte) at the end Tempo: allegro Classified - Internal use

More feature Decending notes Pizzicato and sicato from the wood block create the sound of a horse Grace notes

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Listen  http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=er8JloGJhAQ&desktop_uri= %2Fwatch%3Fv%3Der8JloGJhAQ&gl=GB

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By: Lauren Èirin Sarah

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