Norman Rockwell and Aaron Copland: Great American Artists Essay

Illustrator Nor bit Rock strong along with haul upr and harmonyian Aaron Copland were ii strong cognize the Statesn artists individu in all(a)y having an enormous pertain on lodge with their art and melody. Rockwells pigments and illustrations depicted the unadulterated and serene American path of t hotshot a bearing for which scholars criticized him for. Copland was considered an outsider in many ways he was the kickoff American composer to give the United States and its hoi polloi their throw distinct musical theater language. Norman Rockwell and Aaron Copland severally contributed a wonder salutaryy curious and meaningful form of art and music, each atomic number 18 distinctly American in e in truth sense of the word.Norman Rockwells The Four emancipations Norman Rockwell was one of the or so well know American artists of the twentieth century. Rockwells style as an illustrator and puma was apply purposely to portray a happy and care big breasted manners t hat was full of American nostalgia a clean and honest inelegant lifestyle. As a boylike adult his goal was to land a c over on the Saturday even lieu for which he ultimately illustrated 321 covers in over 47 years. As a tall American, Rockwell was a tremendous put forwarder of his country and the United States military.When homo contend II arrived President Franklin D. Roosevelt de lodgered a speech to congress which defined the four essential freedoms for all Americans. Inspired by President Roosevelts words, Rockwell decided to illustrate the speech done four paintings nameed The Four immunitys (Biography Today, 2010). Norman Rockwells works generally touched upon the childly country life without controversy, fear, anger or ugliness involved. However with the outbreak of World War II Rockwell felt compelled to do something for his country.The Four Freedoms had some(prenominal) social and political effects on the war front and brought Rockwell into a contrary realm from which batch were used to. The Four Freedoms represented Freedom of linguistic process and expression by dint ofout the human race Freedom from Fear in hoping for a reduction in armaments so that the universe may live in tranquillity Freedom of Worship so that each person can worship their divinity fudge in their own way and Freedom from Want an economic on a lower floorstanding throughout the homo that every nation impart enjoy peace and security.Freedom of Speech is a painting that is represented by a working class man standing up to speak publicly. composition Freedom from Fear portrays a duo tucking their children into bed the father is h honest-to-goding a newspaper with a headline harangue of the war. Freedom of Worship portrays many diametrical spate in individual charm and finally the most well known of the four, Freedom from Want is a painting of an elderly woman placing a cook turkey before her happy family. separately painting eventually made its wa y into the Saturday Evening Post and was accompanied by an adjudicate written by different authors.Carlos Bulosan, a Filipino-American writer composed the essay for Freedom from Want and expressed so eloquently what he felt was the American ideal It is the dignity of the individual to live in a society of free men, where the spirit of understanding and belief make it of understanding that all men are compeer that all men, whatever their color, race, organized religion or estate, should be given equal opportunity to serve themselves and each some other(prenominal) according to their needs and abilities. (Janairo, 2011).After the Saturday Evening Post published The Four Freedoms in their magazine the paintings began a tour close to the United States in an effort to support the war eventually raising much than $133 million in war bonds and stamps. Stephanie Plunkett, the alternate director and chief curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum stated that Rockwell as an artist was kn own for giving more attention to lifes simple moments. However, with The Four Freedoms at that place was an opportunity for Rockwell to leave an enormous impact on Americans and their feelings for what was occurring in the world during that time.Plunkett states that the images were of vast inspiration to our nation at a time when it was needed. Today The Four Freedoms affect to resonate the importance of society and the world condition, carrying the same messages that Rockwell had intended when he multi-colored them over 70 years past (Janairo, 2010). Aaron Coplands Appalachian form Aaron Copland was belike one of the best known and well respected American composers of the twentieth century. patch Copland studied composition overseas in France his desire was to make a fantastic American musical style he accomplished this by incorporating traditional American music such as make do and folk into his classical compositions. Copland set American classical music apart from all o ther styles and gave Americans a music to call our own. Due to his unique avant-garde style Copland was approached by American choreographer Martha whole wheat flour. Graham asked Copland to compose a ballet that would sum up the lives of people living through multiplication of peace and struggle.This resulted in Appalachian Spring, a 14 touchment work portraying a shaker wedding party and the emotions and events associated with it (Scher, 2005). Copland worked under the title of Ballet for Martha which he used throughout his creative process. However, just days before the debut performance Graham decided to change the title to Appalachian Spring simply because she just wish the name. In fact, Graham was enliven by this phrase from poet Hart genus Grus O Appalachian Spring I gained the ledge Steep, inaccessible smile that eastbound bendsAnd northward reaches in that purplish wedge Of Adirondack wisped of azure wands Copland complied with the name, as well as with numerous p lot revisions by Graham with no change to the music (Scher 2005). Following several performances audience members commented to Copland that they could opine the Appalachians and feel spring, neither of which he had ab initio envisioned when composing the score (Kennard & Saffa, 2006). Aaron Coplands social and political belief of the Shaker peoples was evident in the context of Appalachian Spring.The Shakers as a group of people incorporated dance and music into their day-to-day lives, similar as to how the ballet portrays them. Appalachian Spring is an extended metaphor on peace and war. During the time that Copland was composing the blame there was much turbulence occurring in spite of appearance America and the world World War II was reaching its climax, while America and Japan were on edge with one another. This is reflective as the ballet begins with an atmospheric almost ethereal sound, like weeny wisps of fog early in the morning. in conclusion it clears up and things give way to a wedding, which most of the ballet is compromised of. Following the wedding a demon-like creature made of plague and brimstone arrives to tell the just merrily married couple that they will bemuse to sacrifice something in order to await happy together. When the creature departs, the couple reflects on their newfound knowledge and they live blithely ever after we are thus reminded that with happiness and freedom there is a price one must indemnify (Kennard & Saffa, 2006). Copland and Graham were some(prenominal) modernists, determined to move their respective fields of art forward.They world-class collaborated in 1931, when Graham did a fly dance to Coplands controversial and exceedingly challenging Piano Variations (written in 1930) authorise Dithyrambic. Later, the twain worked together on another dance project, entitled Lamentations. Appalachian Spring is the first ballet in which the two collaborated by featuring a full ensemble, there were multiple da ncers and the music was easier to listen to. The first ensemble was to be made up of 12 musicians due to the fact that the ballet was short in length and the music and dance were both simply done.However, Copland insisted on a group of 13 musicians in later years the share would eventually be arranged into a cortege for full orchestra. The score consisted mainly of a sort of theme and variations on the old Shaker dance tune simplex Gifts, which arguably gives the piece its ultimate American feel. Copland scholar Howard Pollack stated that the piece Appalachian Spring made both Copland and Graham renowned artists (Scher, 2005). Norman Rockwell and Aaron Copland were both iconic American artists in their own rights. Each of these men brought a very specific Americana to their works touching upon the heart and soul of all Americans.Rockwell expressed through his illustrations and paintings pure and simple American nostalgia. Copland on the other hand gave Americans a musical langua ge that we could finally call our own. He possessed an ability that allowed for the listener to paint a picture of a vast America in their mind when audition to his majestic compositions. Both Norman Rockwell and Aaron Copland were marvellous artists who have left a very specific and indelible mark on American culture and society their esthetic contributions will forever be interweave into the fabric of the American dream.