New York J 528: Commemorating the 125th Birthday of Aaron Copland on November 14, 2025

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J00528 Summary:

BILL NOJ00528 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORHARCKHAM

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top J00528 Actions:

BILL NOJ00528 

&nbsp

03/17/2025REFERRED TO FINANCE

03/25/2025REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

03/25/2025ADOPTED

Go to topJ00528 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ00528 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ00528 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 528

BY: Senator HARCKHAM

 COMMEMORATING the 125th Birthday of Aaron Copland
 on November 14, 2025

 WHEREAS, From time to time, we take note of certain individuals whom
we wish to recognize for their valued contributions and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to join the
people of this great Empire State in proudly observing the 125th
birthday of Aaron Copland on November 14, 2025, taking note of his many
accomplishments and contributions to American music and culture; and

 WHEREAS, Throughout the year, Copland House will host a variety of
events, including on-site concerts, to celebrate the 125th Anniversary
of the birth of its namesake, Aaron Copland; and

 WHEREAS, Aaron Copland, one of the most celebrated American
composers, is known for his distinctive blend of classical music with
American folk traditions; his compositions are often seen as embodying
the spirit of the United States in the 20th century; and

 WHEREAS, Born on November 14, 1900, in Brooklyn, New York, Aaron
Copland's early years were marked by exposure to a rich cultural
environment; he studied music in New York City before going to France to
study composition with Nadia Boulanger, whose guidance played a crucial
role in shaping his distinctive style; and

 WHEREAS, Aaron Copland's music evolved over time, incorporating
elements from European modernism, jazz, and folk melodies; and

 WHEREAS, The hallmark of Copland's music lies in his ability to
create a sound that resonated deeply with the American experience; works
like Appalachian Spring (1944), Fanfare for the Common Man (1942), and
Rodeo (1942) have become iconic, evoking imagery of wide-open spaces,
the pioneer spirit, and the triumph of everyday Americans; and

 WHEREAS, Furthermore, his use of simple, open harmonies and
folk-like themes made his music accessible and deeply emotional,
reflecting both the optimism and the struggles of the American
landscape; and

 WHEREAS, Aaron Copland's influence extended beyond the concert hall;
during the 1930s and 1940s, he became deeply involved in the cultural
fabric of American life; he composed music for ballet, film scores, and
was instrumental in the American avant-garde movement; his Fanfare for
the Common Man, for example, became a patriotic anthem, and his film
scores, like those for Of Mice and Men (1939), further established him
as a versatile composer with a profound understanding of American
culture; and

 WHEREAS, Today, Copland House, located in the scenic town of
Cortlandt Manor, New York, is both a historic site and an ongoing center

for music and culture; it was the home of Aaron Copland from 1960 until
his death in 1990; the house, situated in the rolling hills of the
Hudson River Valley, became a sanctuary for Copland, where he composed
many of his later works and hosted fellow musicians, composers, and
artists; and

 WHEREAS, The house itself, designated a National Historic Landmark
in 2008 by the United States Secretary of the Interior, is a modernist
home that blends seamlessly into the natural landscape, reflecting
Copland's appreciation for simplicity and open spaces, qualities that
are mirrored in his music; his time at this house marked a period of
significant creative output, and he often worked in the music studio
built on the property, which is still preserved today; and

 WHEREAS, In recognition of Aaron Copland's legacy, Copland House has
been preserved and transformed into a cultural center dedicated to
advancing the composer's artistic vision; it is home to the Copland
House Residency Awards, which invites composers to live and work in the
same environment that inspired Copland; these residencies provide
composers with the opportunity to create new musi