Hoe Down (from Rodeo)

Aaron Copland (1900-1990) has been called the “Dean of American Composers.” He was one of the first composers to use American folk idioms in his music. Hoe Down is taken from the ballad Rodeo, composed in 1942. From the ballet, Copland extracted Four Dance Episodes to form an orchestral suite for the concert hall: Buckaroo Holiday, Coral Nocturne, Saturday Night Waltz, and Hoe Down. Hoe Down uses the square-dance tunes of Bonaparte and McLeod's Reel. Polyrhtyhms are derived from the jazz idiom; thus, making the work light, humorous, and full of zest. (3:00)