Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring

库普兰《阿拉帕契亚之春》

Has there ever been a piece of music that captured the essence of a nation better than Copland''s 1944 ballet score, Appalachian Spring? Copland''s best-known work appeared smack dab in the middle of the American Century, as the 20th was known, and conjures up images not only of vast fields of wheat and the wild frontier, but also the modern city and the age of the automobile. In short, the music creates a tableau of modern American life.The opening moments of the score depict an awakening — perhaps a sunrise, or maybe the awakening of an entire nation — that never fails to give you shivers.

有比库普兰1944年所作的舞剧《阿拉帕契亚之春》更能抓住一个民族的精髓的音乐作品吗？库普兰这首中所周知的作品不偏不倚地出现于美国世纪中期，意即20世纪，这部作品不仅将广阔的麦田和无垠的边疆画面浮现于脑海中，也同样使人联想起现代美国城市和汽车时代。简而言之，这部音乐作品创造了一幅现代美国人生活的场景。总谱中开头的片段描述的是一种觉醒——也许是一次日出，抑或是整个国家的觉醒——那总是让你不寒而栗。

Ann Southam: Glass Houses

Ann Southam《玻璃屋》

Everyone should know some Canadian classical music, and Ann Southam''s Glass Houses, a set of solo piano pieces composed in homage to minimalist composer Philip Glass, is the perfect introduction. Southam''s style of minimalism is more intricate and ornamented than her American counterpart''s. While the music is complex, it falls easily on the ear.Pianist Christina Petrowska-Quilico has recorded the full work and, with the composer''s permission, released a revised version in 2011.

每个人都应该会知道一些加拿大古典音乐以及Ann Southam的《玻璃屋》，这一套对简约派音乐作曲家格拉斯（Philip Glass）致敬而创作的钢琴独奏作品就是一次完美的介绍。Southam的简约主义风格比起她的美国同行作品来说更为复杂和具有装饰性。尽管这种音乐是复杂的，但它容易入耳。钢琴家Christina Petrowska-Quilico已经收录了整部作品并获得了作曲家的许可，且于2011年发布了修订版。（译者注：Ann Southam，1937-2010，加拿大电子音乐和古典音乐女性作曲家。Christina Petrowska-Quilico，1948-，加拿大钢琴家。）