Fanfare for the Common Man still striking a chord in 2020

Country Living with Francis Farragher

IN the aftermath of the elections, the title of a piece of music came floating into my head. If, you’re like me, and enjoy listening here and there to a touch of classical music (probably the Marty Whelan brigade) without knowing too much about it, then certain pieces will always ring a bell as the first note or two is sounded.

One of those little musical nuggets that kept floating around in my head over the past week was Fanfare for the Common Man, as familiar a piece of music as you’re ever likely to hear and written back in 1942 by American composer, Aaron Copland.

It was composed during a particularly hideous time for the world with the Hitler threat still very real while the United States had also gotten involved in the Second World War. The work had a strong political foundation in that it was reputedly based on a famous speech by the then US Vice-President, Henry A. Wallace, and his proclamation of the dawning of the Century of the Common Man.

Fanfares in music are something close to the equivalent of what we call an ‘intro’ in journalism, essentially the opening paragraph of a story that has to capture the interest of the reader. The fanfare is often short, with plenty of rhythm and bounce to catch ear of the listener.

When Copland had composed his then titlelesss fanfare, there were apparently many ideas put forward as to what it should be called, with many suggestions of war related themes such as Fanfare for Soldiers, but in the end the composer settled for the title Fanfare for the Common Man, now a piece of music as famous for its title as its melodic virtue.

As it turned out, Copland’s masterpiece was premiered by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1943, but at a significant time of the year on the US income tax calendar – March 12 – when returns were due to be filed to Revenue. Copland reputedly said at the time: “I’m all for honouring the common man at income tax time.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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