Billy the Kid is a 1938 ballet written by the American composer Aaron Copland on commission from Lincoln Kirstein. It was choreographed by Eugene Loring for Ballet Caravan. Along with Rodeo and Appalachian Spring, it is one of Copland's most popular and widely performed pieces. It is most famous for its incorporation of several cowboy tunes and American folk songs and, although built around the figure and the exploits of Billy the Kid, is not so much a biography of a notorious but peculiarly appealing desperado as it is a perception of the "Wild West", in which a figure such as Billy played a vivid role.[1]
It premiered on 16 October 1938[2] in Chicago by the Ballet Caravan Company, with pianists Arthur Gold and Walter Hendl performing a two-piano version of the score. The first performance in New York City occurred on 24 May 1939, with an orchestra conducted by Fritz Kitzinger.
The story follows the life of the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid. It begins with "The Open Prairie" and shows many pioneers trekking westward. The action shifts to a small frontier town, in which a young Billy and his mother are present. His mother is killed by a stray bullet during a gunfight and he stabs her killer, then goes on the run.
The next scene shows episodes in Billy's later life. He is living in the desert, is hunted and captured by a posse (in which the ensuing gun battle features prominent percussive effects) and taken to jail. He manages to escape after stealing a gun from the warden during a game of cards and returns to his hideout, where he thinks he is safe, but sheriff Pat Garrett catches up and shoots him to death. The ballet ends with "The Open Prairie" theme and pioneers once again travelling west.
Order of numbers
Introduction: The Open Prairie
Street Scene in a Frontier Town
Mexican Dance and Finale
Prairie Night (Card Game at Night, Billy and his Sweetheart)
Gun Battle
Celebration (After Billy's Capture)
Billy's Death
The Open Prairie Again
Music
Cowboy and folk tunes were heavily used, for instance:[3]
^This premiere date is persistently but incorrectly listed as October 6 in many standard reference works and Copland biographies, but contemporary advertisements and reviews in Chicago newspapers confirm October 16 as the correct premiere date.
^ abElizabeth Bergman Crist (Dec 11, 2008). Music for the Common Man: Aaron Copland during the Depression and War. Oxford University Press. p. 74. ISBN9780199888801.
External links
Video (15:00) – Aaron Copland – Billy the Kid – Suite. on YouTube
Video (02:29) – Aaron Copland – Billy the Kid – Ballet. on YouTube
March 04, 2023
billy, ballet, billy, 1938, ballet, written, american, composer, aaron, copland, commission, from, lincoln, kirstein, choreographed, eugene, loring, ballet, caravan, along, with, rodeo, appalachian, spring, copland, most, popular, widely, performed, pieces, mo. Billy the Kid is a 1938 ballet written by the American composer Aaron Copland on commission from Lincoln Kirstein It was choreographed by Eugene Loring for Ballet Caravan Along with Rodeo and Appalachian Spring it is one of Copland s most popular and widely performed pieces It is most famous for its incorporation of several cowboy tunes and American folk songs and although built around the figure and the exploits of Billy the Kid is not so much a biography of a notorious but peculiarly appealing desperado as it is a perception of the Wild West in which a figure such as Billy played a vivid role 1 Billy the KidChoreographerEugene LoringMusicAaron CoplandBased onthe story of Billy the KidPremiere16 October 1938Civic Opera House Chicago Original ballet companyBallet Caravan CompanySettingWild WestIt premiered on 16 October 1938 2 in Chicago by the Ballet Caravan Company with pianists Arthur Gold and Walter Hendl performing a two piano version of the score The first performance in New York City occurred on 24 May 1939 with an orchestra conducted by Fritz Kitzinger Contents 1 Story 2 Order of numbers 3 Music 4 Cover 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External linksStory EditThe story follows the life of the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid It begins with The Open Prairie and shows many pioneers trekking westward The action shifts to a small frontier town in which a young Billy and his mother are present His mother is killed by a stray bullet during a gunfight and he stabs her killer then goes on the run The next scene shows episodes in Billy s later life He is living in the desert is hunted and captured by a posse in which the ensuing gun battle features prominent percussive effects and taken to jail He manages to escape after stealing a gun from the warden during a game of cards and returns to his hideout where he thinks he is safe but sheriff Pat Garrett catches up and shoots him to death The ballet ends with The Open Prairie theme and pioneers once again travelling west Order of numbers EditIntroduction The Open Prairie Street Scene in a Frontier Town Mexican Dance and Finale Prairie Night Card Game at Night Billy and his Sweetheart Gun Battle Celebration After Billy s Capture Billy s Death The Open Prairie AgainMusic EditCowboy and folk tunes were heavily used for instance 3 Great Grandad Git Along Little Dogies The Old Chisholm Trail Goodbye Old Paint It also includes the Mexican Jarabe dance played in 58 by a solo trumpet just before Goodbye Old Paint 3 Cover EditThe eight movements of the ballet make up the first seven tracks of jazz guitarist Bill Frisell s album Have a Little Faith See also EditList of historical ballet charactersNotes Edit Walter Terry Ballet Guide 1976 p 57 This premiere date is persistently but incorrectly listed as October 6 in many standard reference works and Copland biographies but contemporary advertisements and reviews in Chicago newspapers confirm October 16 as the correct premiere date a b Elizabeth Bergman Crist Dec 11 2008 Music for the Common Man Aaron Copland during the Depression and War Oxford University Press p 74 ISBN 9780199888801 External links EditVideo 15 00 Aaron Copland Billy the Kid Suite on YouTube Video 02 29 Aaron Copland Billy the Kid Ballet on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Billy the Kid ballet amp oldid 1077434411, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
