The sounds of place: music and the American cultural landscape

Introduction, a place to start

America as Niagara : nature as icon. Anthony Philip Heinrich, The war of the elements and The thundering of Niagara ; William Henry Fry, Niagara symphony ; George Frederick Bristow, Niagara : symphony for grand orchestra and chorus

From country to city in the music of Charles Ives. "The Housatonic at Stockbridge," "From Hanover Square North, at the end of a tragic day, the voice of the people again arose"

Urban places : iconic New York. Aaron Copland, Quiet city and Music for a great city ; Edgard Varèse, Amériques ; Duke Ellington, Harlem air shaft and Harlem

Beyond the city : rivers, canyons, and plains. William Grant Still, Kaintuck' and American scenes ; Roy Harris, Cimarron ; Ferde Grofé, Mississippi suite, Grand Canyon suite, Hudson River suite, and Niagara Falls suite

Return to nature : recent reconsiderations. Robert Starer, Hudson Valley suite ; Dana Paul Perna, Prout's Neck and Three places on Long Island ; Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Symphony no. 4, "The gardens"

A sounding place : America redefined. Steve Reich, Vermont counterpoint, The desert music, New York counterpoint, and City life

Conclusions : where we are.