this is a ballet suite which premiered in 1942 with choreography to five movements, one of which (the "ranch house party" which would have been third) is not heard in the orchestral suite which was subsequently arranged. this would be copland's second "cowboy ballet" in four years, but the choreographer (agnes de mille) convinced him that it would be different enough. her influence was such that she determined every member of the cast and to some extent controlled the music as well. wiki says that it's a result of this tight control that copland, rather uncharacteristically, leaves the myriad folk melodies he incorporates mostly untouched (as de mille transcribed them).
everyone knows the last movement of this piece, but i rather like the constant switching of duple and triple meter in this movement. (the first movement is definitely worth checking out, if you don't know it.)
unsurprisingly, youtube is swamped with high school/cc orchestras of this whole suite (i first played it myself back when i was in 8th grade... ugh). but here's a recording by indianapolis symphony.
this whole ballet is basically about the cowgirl - danced by de mille herself, originally - trying to find acceptance within her society. she is awkward and seeks acceptance among the cowboys, particularly the "head wrangler." a tomboy, she is much more of a kindred spirit to these men than her competitor ladies, all the local girls. this movement is what happens at a dance in which everyone pairs off, leaving the cowgirl awkwardly alone until the "champion roper" actually approaches her (after being bested by the wrangler in attracting someone else).
this is the folk song which was transcribed to become the main theme.
the movement starts with the orchestra "tuning up" in preparation. presumably everyone is sort of pairing up during this interlude, and then the waltz proper begins.
i love the ambiguity between 3 and 2 with this theme. pick either and it will feel natural, but always with a slight tug at some point into the other meter.
a much faster interlude begins at 2:43. solo winds and celli play with two meshed seventh chords (a-flat minor, and e-flat minor) until all of a sudden a very short "development" theme blossoms out, dovetailing nicely into the main theme. presumably at this point the cowgirl has gotten her man and is dancing with him (or maybe i'm just making up all this? it's kind of hard to find info on, actually :o)
enjoy.
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