The City (1939 Documentary) - Naxos DVD with Newly Recorded Soundtrack by Aaron Copland

UPC: 747313523157

Product Features:

• Composer: Aaron Copland
• Conductor: Angel Gil-Ordóñez
• Ensemble: Post-Classical Ensemble
• Narrator: Francis Guinan
• Original Film Narrator: Morris Carnovsky
• Film Directors: Ralph Steiner and Willard Van Dyke
• Script: Written by city planner Lewis Mumford
• Performance Date: Newly recorded soundtrack performed by the Post-Classical Ensemble, October 2007
• Region: NTSC, no region coding (worldwide)
• Audio: Dolby Digital, DTS Surround Sound
• Running Time:Format: DVD
  • The City with new soundtrack: 43:40
  • The City with original soundtrack: 43:40
  • Bonus Features: 44 minutes total

Overview:

The City (1939) is a landmark documentary film made for the New York World's Fair, widely regarded for its synthesis of narration, cinematography, and music. This DVD presents a newly recorded soundtrack of Aaron Copland’s score by the Post-Classical Ensemble, conducted by Angel Gil-Ordóñez, providing a fresh auditory perspective on Copland’s work. The original film score is considered one of Copland’s greatest achievements, influencing his later Hollywood compositions and Americana style. This world première recording allows audiences to experience the full richness of the score for the first time in high-quality sound, as the original mono recording obscured much of its detail.

Additional special features include the original 1939 soundtrack version, a 2000 documentary Which Playground for Your Child: Greenbelt or Gutter?, and a 2007 interview with legendary filmmaker George Stoney, offering in-depth insights into the film’s historical and cultural significance.

Interesting Facts:

• Aaron Copland's Breakthrough: The score for The City helped establish Copland’s reputation in film music, paving the way for his later work in Hollywood.
• Historical Context: The film was part of the 1939 New York World’s Fair, showcasing visions of the future and the role of cities in modern life. Its portrayal of urban planning and community living remains influential.
• Cultural Impact: The City has been described as a "missing link" in both American cinema and music, particularly in the evolution of Copland’s distinctly American sound, characterized by its simplicity and evocation of wide-open spaces.
• Restoration Effort: This release marks the first time Copland’s complete score has been re-recorded, allowing modern audiences to appreciate the full depth and complexity of the composition.

Track Listing:

• The City (1939):
  • Newly recorded soundtrack by Aaron Copland performed by the Post-Classical Ensemble, conducted by Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  • Original 1939 soundtrack with Morris Carnovsky narrating and Max Goberman conducting
• Bonus Features:
  • Which Playground for Your Child: Greenbelt or Gutter? (2000) - 15:09
  • George Stoney in Conversation with Joseph Horowitz (2007) - 29:15

Publishers:

• Produced by: Naxos in collaboration with The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at Maryland, The National Endowment for the Arts, and The Aaron Copland Fund
• Edition: Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.

Hashtags:

#TheCityDocumentary #AaronCopland #PostClassicalEnsemble #AngelGilOrdonez #1939WorldsFair #DocumentaryFilm #ClassicalMusic #NaxosDVD #HistoricFilm #AmericanMusic #UrbanPlanning #GreenbeltDocumentary #CulturalHeritage