John Barbour (E)
2.picc.2(II=corA ad lib).2.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(4):glsp/gong/t.bells/
vib/xyl/cyms/susp.cym/tam-t/tgl/wdbl/whip/BD/SD-harp-strings
A patriotic work for chorus and orchestra written originally for a non-professional chorus. Copland confined himself to two-part choral writing and to introducing the chorus only in the final third. As he wanted to "Make a big noise," a large battery of percussion is called for in the orchestra. The piece was revised later for a performance conducted by Robert Shaw.
-Vivian Perlis, 1998