AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES                                                                                 331 a

Howard Hanson

with Martin Bookspan

WQXR

New York, N.Y.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Side a                                                                                                              pp. 1-15

What is American music?--characteristics of American music: urban music--influence on Hanson of the Midwest--recognizable styles of American composers--Roy Harris, Copland--early history of American music--Quintet for strings by Johann Peter--John Knowles Paine--Prelude to Oedipus Tyrannus--George Whitefield Chadwick--Edward MacDowell--Indian Suite--American composers' concerts in Rochester--American composers well equipped to write for orchestra--breaking down of barriers between popular and serious music with Gershwin--Cuban Rhapsody--Broadway musical--Hanson's opera Merry Mount--expense of mounting opera--problems of style for the young composer--communication with the audience--Roy Harris--Samuel Barber--Walter Piston--government subsidy of the arts--future direction of music--vitality of musical atmosphere in America.