In honour of Calgary Stampede here’s a quick suggestion for your listening pleasure.

This is the Hoe-Down, the final ‘episode’ from Aaron Copland’s ballet score, Rodeo. It’s definitely one of those pieces of music you know, even if you didn’t think you knew the title or composer.

The version embedded above has visuals of the instruments used throughout which is a great way to help with recognition of the sounds the various instruments can make.

It is played here by the New York Philharmonic and, I believe, conducted by Leonard Bernstein – it certainly rattles along at the same pace as the Bernstein recording. When I first heard it at this speed I thought it sounded too frantic and chaotic, but now I’ve heard it this fast all other versions seem too staid. I wonder what the dancers would make of this tempo, though!