Regarded as the quintessential American composer, Aaron Copland developed a unique musical language that captured the American landscapes, characters, and ideologies of the early part of the 20th century. He did this with expansive yet plain harmonies (lots of open fifths and octaves, for those with an interest in music theory), and by weaving together snippets of American folk music. You would recognise much of Copland’s work if you heard it - ‘Appalachian Spring’, ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’, ‘Billy the Kid’, et al.