“’Tis a gift to be simple.” The celebrated melody of the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts” and its optimistic theme are prominent throughout American composer Aaron Copland’s signature work, “Appalachian ...

When Martha Graham’s ballet “Appalachian Spring” had its premiere on Oct. 30, 1944, in Washington, D.C., Aaron Copland was the voice of America. He had the gift to be simple. He wrote music that ...