I assume everyone–or at least everyone who listens to music at all–can name at least one favorite piece of music. For me it would be hard to narrow it down to one single song. I can say my favorite genre is definitely the great American Songbook. I love Sinatra and Bennett, Ella and Satchmo, Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble–the list goes on. But I also love jazz, classic rock from the 60’s and 70’s, and I am just crazy about all ages of classical music. Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons just fills me with joy. So, this post is not about my favorite piece of music, but instead about a favorite piece. Who knows–maybe it will be the first in a series.

Aaron Copland was a shockingly talented composer who wrote two of my favorites. The song commonly known as “Simple Gifts”, which is part of the longer composition, Appalachian Spring, is achingly beautiful. But by far Copland’s most compelling piece to me is “Fanfare For the Common Man.” Here it is, in case you haven’t heard it:

Should someone ask me why this is such a favorite, my first response would be to ask if they’d actually listened to it. How can anyone listen to that song without getting chills? Without even thinking of the implications of the title, just the haunting, soaring, powerful notes (I don’t have the musical knowledge to talk about this as well as I wish) never fail to give me goosebumps and sometimes, depending on how vulnerable or tired I feel, a lump in my throat. The way it starts out so simply, and builds in power and complexity of layers of instruments touches my heart and soul in ways I just can’t fully articulate. Words that come to mind are noble, expansive, harmonious, humble, generous. I almost imagine a group setting off on a long, arduous journey of great pitch and moment, to borrow from Shakespeare. The groups starts small, but grows until it’s a force to be reckoned with.

I have to admit I listened to the song dozens of times before I even gave the first thought to the title. But when I did, the piece took on a whole new layer of meaning. Those images I discussed earlier are all the more impactful when we put them in the context of everyday people rather than some elite group of powerful, rich folks. This isn’t a highly skilled, precisely trained, well-funded group of aristocrats going on some larger-than-life mission; instead, it’s you and me, as we step out into the gauntlet of day-to-day existence. And that deserves a fanfare.