View source for Fanfare for the Common Man

{{Short description|1942 musical work by Aaron Copland}}
{{for|the song by Emerson, Lake & Palmer|Fanfare for the Common Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| name              = Fanfare for the Common Man
| composer          = [[Aaron Copland]]
| image             = Aaron Copland 1970.JPG
| caption           = Copland in his creative office 
| form              = [[Fanfare]]
| composed          = 1942
| dedication        = [[Eugene Aynsley Goossens|Eugene Goossens]]
| duration          = 4 [[minute]]s ca. 
| scoring           = {{Hlist|[[Brass instrument|Brass]]|[[Percussion instrument|Percussion]]}}
| premiere_date     = {{Start date|1943|03|12}}
| premiere_location = [[Cincinnati Music Hall]]
| misc        = {{Audio sample 
| file        = Fanfare for the Common Man.ogg
| description = Sample from ''Fanfare for the Common Man'' performed by the [[San Francisco Symphony Orchestra]], [[Michael Tilson Thomas]] (conductor)
| filetype    = [[Ogg]]
}}}}
'''''Fanfare for the Common Man''''' is a musical work by the [[List of American composers|American]] [[composer]] [[Aaron Copland]]. It was written in [[1942 in music|1942]] for the [[Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra]] under [[Conducting|conductor]] [[Eugene Aynsley Goossens|Eugene Goossens]] and was inspired in part by a speech made earlier that year by then [[American Vice President]] [[Henry A. Wallace]], in which  Wallace proclaimed the dawning of the "Century of the Common Man".

Several alternative versions have been made and fragments of the work have appeared in many subsequent US and British cultural productions, such as in the musical scores of movies.

==Instrumentation==
This [[fanfare]] is written for the following instruments:
* four [[French horn]]s (in F)
* three [[trumpet]]s (in B{{music|b}})
* three [[trombone]]s
* [[tuba]]
* [[timpani]]
* [[bass drum]]
* [[tam-tam]]

==Fanfare==
[[File:Henry-A.-Wallace-Townsend.jpeg|thumb|150px| [[Henry A. Wallace]]'s speech proclaiming the "Century of the Common Man" inspired Copland's fanfare.]]
Copland, in his autobiography, wrote of the request: "[[Eugene Aynsley Goossens|Eugene Goossens]], conductor of the [[Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra]], had written to me at the end of August about an idea he wanted to put into action for the 1942–43 concert season. During [[World War I]] he had asked British composers for a fanfare to begin each orchestral concert. It had been so successful that he thought to repeat the procedure in [[World War II]] with American composers". A total of 10 fanfares<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/orchestra/history/goossens-fanfares/ |title=Goossens Fanfares |publisher=Cincinnatisymphony.org |access-date=2016-03-12}}</ref> were written at Goossens' behest, but Copland's is the only one which remains in the standard repertoire.
[[File:Aaron Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Initial trumpet notes from ''Fanfare for the Common Man'', Copland Memorial Garden, [[Tanglewood]]]]
It was written in response to the US entry into [[World War II]] and was inspired in part by a famous 1942 speech<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winrock.org/wallace/wallacecenter/wallace/CCM.htm |title=The Century of the Common Man |publisher=Winrock International |first=Henry |last=Wallace |author-link=Henry A. Wallace |date=February 1942 |access-date=2011-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124714/http://www.winrock.org/wallace/wallacecenter/wallace/CCM.htm |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>
where vice president [[Henry A. Wallace]] proclaimed the dawning of the "Century of the Common Man".<ref>{{Cite book
 | author = Byron Almnn and Edward Pearsall
 | title = Approaches to meaning in music
 | year = 2006
 | page = 88
 | isbn = 978-0-253-34792-3
 | publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] }}</ref>

Goossens had suggested titles such as ''Fanfare for Soldiers'', or sailors or airmen, and he wrote that {{nowrap|"[i]t}} is my idea to make these fanfares stirring and significant contributions to the war effort...." Copland considered several titles including ''Fanfare for a Solemn Ceremony'' and ''Fanfare for [[Four Freedoms]]''; to Goossens' surprise, however, Copland titled the piece ''Fanfare for the Common Man''. Goossens wrote, "Its title is as original as its music, and I think it is so telling that it deserves a special occasion for its performance. If it is agreeable to you, we will premiere it 12 March 1943 at [[Tax Day|income tax]] time". Copland's reply was "I [am] all for honoring the common man at income tax time".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.surreybrass.co.uk/things/fanfare_for_the_common_man.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317004223/http://www.surreybrass.co.uk/things/fanfare_for_the_common_man.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2009  |title=Repertoire: Fanfare for the Common Man |website=surreybrass.co.uk }}</ref>

Copland later used the fanfare as the main [[theme (music)|theme]] of the fourth [[movement (music)|movement]] of his [[Symphony No. 3 (Copland)|Third Symphony]] (composed between 1944 and 1946).

==In television and other media==
The theme song for the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' television series that was in syndication during 1993-1999 has much in common with the Fanfare for the Common Man song. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.artofthescore.com.au/podcast/2017/4/15/episode-5-star-trek-tv |title=Episode 5: Star Trek (TV) |publisher=Art of the Score |date=2017-04-15 |access-date=2024-07-19}}</ref>

''[[Michael Jackson]]'' and ''[[The Jacksons]]'' began their reunion set during the ''[[Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration]]'' concerts on September 7th and 10th, 2001 at [[Madison Square Garden]] using Fanfare for the Common Man as the introduction music before the start of ''[[Can You Feel It (The Jacksons song)]]''. <ref>{{cite web https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6sbyqHa8ak&t=73s&pp=ygUjbWljaGFlbCBqYWNrc29uIDMwdGggYW5uaXZlcnNhcnkgNGs%3D |title=4K | Michael Jackson | 30th Anniversary 2001 (Remastered)| timestamp: 0:53| publisher=Magical| date=2022-03-18 |access-date=2025-03-27}}</ref>

The [[Chicago Blackhawks]] of the [[NHL]] have used the Fanfare song as part of a pre-game video introduction of the team before it takes to the ice since moving into the [[United Center]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4emM1-kzM0w |title=Chicago Blackhawks 2007-2008 Intro |publisher=YouTube |date=2008-04-05 |access-date=2011-09-15}}</ref>

Several feature films employ the piece for dramatic effect. [[John Williams]]' main themes for the 1978 ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' film are partially based on the fanfare and his original score for ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' draws heavily on its soundworld (though Copland's piece is not actually heard in either movie). In ''[[The Patriot (2000 film)|The Patriot]]'', which Williams scored, the music of the final scene before the credits may be a nod to Copland's work. The fanfare functioned as Jimmy King's theme in ''[[Ready to Rumble]]''. The [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Parinda]]'' prominently features the piece as background score, including in a haunting opening depicting shots of Bombay.<ref>Parinda part 1 (with the intro and the Copland piece in the background score) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVMBtcYWKYc</ref>

The first three notes of the piece are coincidentally the same as the sound made by the motors of the [[MR-73]] class of cars on the [[Montreal Metro]] as they leave the station and accelerate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=7487 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823173621/http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=7487 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-08-23 |title=Fanfare for the Common Commuter: Observatory: Design Observer |publisher=Observatory.designobserver.com |access-date=2011-09-15 }}</ref>

[[Seven Network]] in Australia used "Fanfare" to accompany their "7 Sport" opener throughout the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i6XQH8jgSo |title=Seven sport opener 1996 |website=[[YouTube]] |date=17 November 2018 }}</ref> Additionally, [[Chris Conroy's World of Boats]] and [[Chris Conroy's Leisureworld]] both used a rock version of "Fanfare" for their opening credits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpuCl8Zhv1Y |title=Chris Conroy's 'World of Boats; - Pat Jones' Ultrafoil. 1980s |website=[[YouTube]] |date=27 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1waWUCImDn0 |title=Chris Conroy's Leisureworld Intro (1994) |website=[[YouTube]] |date=13 March 2016 }}</ref>

On September 21, 2012, "Fanfare" was played at [[Los Angeles International Airport]] as the [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'']] touched down after its final flight.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/shuttle-endeavour-welcomed-star-treks-uhura.html |title=Shuttle Endeavour welcomed home by 'Star Trek's' Uhura at LAX |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2012-09-21 |access-date=2012-09-22}}</ref>

It featured in BBC Television's children's television programme, ''[[Melody (TV series)|Melody]]'', as the second piece to inspire Melody's imagination. She imagined a family of elephants enjoying a mud bath.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03l2lxh |title=Muddy Melody |publisher=BBC |date=2013-12-03 |access-date=2014-07-22}}</ref>

On May 15, 2014, it was played by the New York Philharmonic at the dedication of the 9/11 Museum in lower Manhattan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/05/15/must-see-ny-philharmonic-performs-fanfare-common-man-911-museum-dedication |title=MUST-SEE: NY Philharmonic Performs 'Fanfare for the Common Man' at 9/11 Museum Dedication |publisher=FOX News Network, LLC. |date=2014-05-19 |access-date=2014-05-19}}</ref>

In February 2025, "Fanfare for the Common Man" featured as theme music for the [[Sanremo Music Festival 2015|65th Italian Song Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvblog.it/post/sanremo-2015-10-febbraio-diretta-canzoni-ospiti |title=Sanremo 2015, 13 febbraio, quarta serata |language=it|work=Tvblog |date=2015-02-13 |access-date=2025-02-22 }}</ref>

On September 26, 2015, it was played at Independence Hall in Philadelphia as Pope Francis came outside to make a speech on religious freedom, which he delivered from the lectern used by Abraham Lincoln to deliver the Gettysburg Address.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2015/09/27/live-coverage-pope-philadelphia/72870432/ |date=September 27, 2015 |title=Recap: The pope in Philadelphia on Saturday |publisher=[[Delaware News-Journal]] }}</ref>

On October 4, 2017 it was played during the penultimate episode - S04E09 ''Search'' - of the AMC series ''Halt and Catch Fire'' as John Bosworth emerged from an appointment with his physician. 

On October 31, 2019, it was played on the roof of [[Radio24syv]]'s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, at midnight, when the station stopped broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2019-10-31-radio24syvs-lyttere-klapper-den-korte-radioavis-ud|title=Radio24syvs lyttere klapper Den Korte Radioavis ud|last=Bohr|first=Jakob Kjøgx|date=31 October 2019|work=TV2|access-date=1 November 2019|agency=Ritzau|language=da}}</ref> The station was closed after eight years, because it controversially failed to get its broadcast license and funding renewed, after a long and windy political process.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/kultur/pengene-kostede-radio24syv-livet |title=Pengene kostede Radio24syv livet |trans-title=Money cost Radio24syv its life |last1=Almbjerg |first1=Sarah Iben |last2=Lindberg|first2=Kristian |date=23 October 2019|publisher=[[Berlingske]] |access-date=1 November 2019 |language=da}}</ref>

The New York Philharmonic's version of the work was traditionally played on [[New Year's Eve]] when the [[Times Square Ball|ball]] was raised at [[Times Square]].

Professional Darts Player [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil "The Power" Taylor]] used the opening trumpet salutes as part of his walk-up music during his career. The music would then shift to "[[The Power (Snap! song)|The Power]]" by Snap! as the Walkup continued.

==Alternative versions==
Copland's fanfare was performed by British prog-rock band [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]] on their 1977 album ''[[Works Volume 1]]''. [[Fanfare for the Common Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)|The track]] became one of the band's biggest hits when an edited version was released as a single that year. It peaked at No. 2 in the UK. [[Keith Emerson]] had long been an admirer of Copland's Americana style, previously using Copland's ''[[Rodeo (Copland)#Hoe-Down|Hoedown]]'' on the band's ''[[Trilogy (Emerson, Lake & Palmer album)|Trilogy]]'' album in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vintagerock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49|title=The Keith Emerson Interview|last=Perry|first=Shawn|website=VintageRock.com|access-date=September 6, 2016}}</ref>

On their [[Styx (album)|debut album]] in 1971, rock band [[Styx (band)|Styx]] recorded a 13-minute, four part song called ''Movement for the Common Man'', including Fanfare as the third of its four parts.

[[Vincent Montana Jr.|Vincent Montana Junior]] recorded a version for his 1978 album "I Love Music".<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/release/182968-Montana-I-Love-Music Montana – I Love Music], [[AllMusic]]</ref>

In the 1990s,  "Fanfare" began to be used to welcome the winner of the [[Aintree]] [[Grand National Steeplechase]] from the racecourse to the winner's enclosure as the timing of the piece roughly matched the time it took the winner to make the journey. When the enclosure was moved in 2010, "Fanfare" was used instead to announce the procession of competitors from the paddock to the course before the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alr3vr-TsFQ|title=Aintree Fanfare to start the main race|last=djlippy1|date=14 April 2012|via=YouTube}}</ref>

[[Mannheim Steamroller]] also has a version on its "American Spirit" album. On August 28, 2010, it was played at the beginning of [[Glenn Beck]]'s [[Restoring Honor rally]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Glenn Beck: Making Sense of the Man and the Movement|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/08/31/glenn-beck-making-sense-of-the-man-and-the-movement/?icid=sphere_politicsdaily_inline2|first=Marcy|last=Curtis|publisher=Politics Daily|archive-date=2010-09-07|access-date=2010-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907075137/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/08/31/glenn-beck-making-sense-of-the-man-and-the-movement/?icid=sphere_politicsdaily_inline2|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 12, 2011, the piece opened "Together We Thrive: Tucson and America", the memorial service for the victims of the [[2011 Tucson shooting]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wildcat.arizona.edu/news/live-updates-from-together-we-thrive-tucson-and-america-1.1839752 |title=Arizona Daily Wildcat :: |publisher=Wildcat.arizona.edu |access-date=2011-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816164637/http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/news/live-updates-from-together-we-thrive-tucson-and-america-1.1839752 |archive-date=2011-08-16 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* ''Copland 1900 Through 1942'', by Aaron Copland and [[Vivian Perlis]], St. Martin's Press, 1984, {{ISBN|0-312-16962-0}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092550/http://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/Content.php?id=198 Goossens' Fanfares].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060109180347/http://www.emersonlakepalmer.com/album10.wav Audio sample (.wav) of ELP version].
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y}}
{{Aaron Copland}}
{{Sanremo Music Festival}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Compositions by Aaron Copland]]
[[Category:Seven Sport]]
[[Category:CBS Sports Spectacular]]
[[Category:Concert band pieces]]
[[Category:1942 compositions]]
[[Category:Music commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra]]
[[Category:Compositions for orchestra without strings]]
[[Category:Compositions in B-flat major]]
[[Category:Compositions for brass ensemble]]
[[Category:Fanfares]]
[[Category:Orchestral compositions by Aaron Copland]]