This piece needs little explanation for why it should be on a happiness playlist. I mean just listen to it. It does remind me of a funny story relating to Copland though. When I was in sixth-form a friend and I were given last minute free tickets to a Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concert. We knew there was some Copland on the programme, and we were standing chatting in the concert hall lobby trying to remember whether Copland was still alive or not. Two women nearby overheard us and burst into laughter – it turned out that the concert was actually to honour Copland’s 90th birthday. (Ironically, he died only a couple of weeks later, which sort of settled the discussion).
Introducing Ailsa Dixon’s Music
Composer Ailsa Dixon studied at Durham in the 1950s. Ahead of a concert celebrating her music, her daughter Josie Dixon tells Ailsa’s story and introduces the music on the programme.