Copland’s Appalachian Spring
Celebrating the rich voices of American composers, this program explores a range of musical expressions that define the nation's cultural landscape. William Bolcom’s lively Rag infuses playful energy into the quartet, while Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet, a cornerstone of American chamber music, blends lyrical vibrancy with innovative harmonies. Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho Suite, performed in its original instrumentation for strings, brings the suspense of his iconic film score into the concert hall with gripping intensity and dark beauty. The program concludes with Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite, a quintessentially American work that captures the hope and optimism of life on the frontier. The late critic Terry Teachout described Appalachian Spring as "probably the greatest piece of classical music by an American."
Program
Bolcom Three Rags for String Quartet (1989)
Beach Quintet in F-sharp minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 67 (1907)
Herrmann Psycho: A Narrative for String Ensemble (1960)
Copland Appalachian Spring Suite for Ensemble (1944)
Artists
ANNE-MARIE MCDERMOTT, piano
RICHARD LIN, violin
KRISTIN LEE, violin
FRANCISCO FULLANA, violin
LUN LI, violin
DANIEL PHILLIPS, viola
PAUL NEUBAUER, viola
DMITRI ATAPINE, cello
NICK CANELLAKIS, cello
NINA BERNAT, bass
TARA HELEN O'CONNOR, flute
DAVID SHIFRIN, clarinet
MARC GOLDBERG, bassoon
Availability
This program is available for touring October 2-11, 2026.
For more information about booking CMS in North America, contact David Rowe Artists Management.