Though written before his studies in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, Aaron Copland's Three Moods received their premiere on a student recital in France (bearing the French title Trois Esquisses). These vignettes are among Copland's earliest surviving works and exhibit the young composer's creative though still-developing style.

The first movement, "Embittered" ("Amerture") begins with rhapsodic rumblings, followed by melodramatic rolled chords; the overwrought sentiment of such gestures is perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek. The piece increases in bombast until a huge glissando and pounding chords bring it to a violent conclusion. The second movement, "Wistful" ("Pensif") is both Chopinesque and bluesy, with lush seventh and ninth chords contributing to its languid atmosphere. The last movement, "Jazzy," opens jovially, gives way to a contrasting, more mellow section, and concludes with a return of the opening material and a humorously abrupt ending.

© All Music Guide

Portions of Content Provided by All Music Guide.
© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.