What is this promo/movie trailer music that sounds like Aaron Copland?

November 27, 2010 10:48 PM

Please help me identify this Aaron Copland-esque music I keep hearing.

On CBC Radio One right now they are using a very Aaron Copland-esque piece of music behind one of their promos for some upcoming show (which I can never seem to catch the name of). It's sweeping, grand, orchestral stuff. After listening to a whole lot of Aaron Copland music on YouTube, I am fairly certain that it isn't actually Aaron Copland but rather a soundalike, like the West Wing theme (which I thought it was at first--I checked and it's definitely not).

To make matters more frustrating, I have also heard this piece in movie trailers recently but cannot for the life of me remember which ones. ARGGH.

Anyway, in my desperation, I have recorded an online keyboard version of the main melody. Obviously this does not replicate the grand sweeping orchestral nature of the original, but it's the best I can produce.

Please help! This is driving me nuts.

posted by hurdy gurdy girl to media & arts (9 answers total)

I can't mentally match your keyboard sample to it, but the first thing I thought of on reading your question was Thomas Newman's score for The Shawshank Redemption, which has some Copland-esque moments to it, and gets borrowed for lots of trailers, specifically the end credit music.
posted by usonian at 5:00 AM on November 28, 2010

Your sample reminds me a little bit of the middle section of "Jupiter" from Gustav Holst's Planets Suite. It's probably not it, but I figured I'd mention it.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:17 AM on November 28, 2010

(The section in question starts around 3:04.)
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:23 AM on November 28, 2010

John Williams Liberty Fanfare also probably isn't it, but feels close.

This is also *possibly* it. (around 1:00) (The West Wing Suite, which is different from the theme. It's closing credits in the syndicated version, I don't think they used any credits on the network.)
posted by gjc at 8:41 AM on November 28, 2010

The soundtrack to the upcoming Tron movie immediately struck me as Copland-esque.
posted by judith at 10:21 AM on November 28, 2010

Thanks for all the responses so far! I must say I've enjoyed listening to all these suggestions. They all do sound so close. I think Johnny Assay's suggestion of the middle section of "Jupiter" is closest...but it isn't quite it. I'll keep checking back!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:54 AM on November 28, 2010

OK, I just heard the promo again and this time managed to identify the name of the show it's promoting--it's Earlier with Lee Rosevere. I've send an e-mail to the producers and asked for the name of the music; hopefully they'll get back to me, but they do say on the contact form they don't have time to respond to everyone, so who knows.

If I hear back, I'll update the thread!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:59 PM on November 28, 2010

I should also mention that the CBC does occasionally commission snippets of music (from anonymous production companies) for use in promos, intro music, outro music, and so forth. I once e-mailed the producers of a Radio 3 podcast to ask a similar question, and that was the reply I received. So it may not even be a piece you could easily get a recording of.
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:29 PM on November 28, 2010

I got a response! Wow, that Lee Rosevere is nice. Anyway, he said the clip is from the soundtrack to Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (approximately here in The Dragon's Heartbeat track). He also linked to the Soundtrack.net page that lists info for the soundtrack, including a link to which other trailers have used this music:

• A Bug's Life (1998) - Theatrical Trailer
• Cinderella Man (2005) - Theatrical Trailer
• Cradle Will Rock (1999) - Theatrical Trailer
• Forrest Gump (1994) - Theatrical Trailer
• Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain (1995) - Theatrical Trailer
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - TV Trailer
• Nell (1994) - TV Trailer
• The Paper (1994) - Theatrical Trailer
• The Patriot (2000) - TV Trailer
• The Quest (1996) - Theatrical Trailer
• Radio (2003) - Theatrical Trailer
• Return to Paradise (1998) - Theatrical Trailer
• The Truman Show (1998) - Theatrical Trailer

I don't think I would ever have figured this out on my own. Thanks for all the suggestions! I figured after dragging the rest of you into this madness I should share my newfound knowledge!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:29 PM on November 28, 2010