''In the Beginning'' is a 1947 choral work by

Aaron Copland Aaron Copland (, ; November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later a conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as "the Dean of American Com ...

to a text from the

Book of Genesis The Book of Genesis (from Greek ; Hebrew: בְּרֵאשִׁית ''Bəreʾšīt'', "In hebeginning") is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its Hebrew name is the same as its first word, ( "In the beginning") ...

chapter 1:1 to 2:7. The 15'–20' minute long work is for mixed four-part chorus

a capella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...

and soprano or

mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano or mezzo (; ; meaning "half soprano") is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A below middle C ...

solo. The work is evocative of the Hebrew '' davening'' and shows the influence of

polytonality Polytonality (also polyharmony) is the musical use of more than one key simultaneously. Bitonality is the use of only two different keys at the same time. Polyvalence or polyvalency is the use of more than one harmonic function, from the same key ...

with references to jazz and blues. ''In the Beginning'' was composed for

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

's Symposium on Music Criticism in May 1947. The premiere was performed by the

Collegiate Chorale MasterVoices (formerly the Collegiate Chorale) is a symphonic choir based in New York City, USA. It was founded in 1941 by Robert Shaw, who was later to found the professional Robert Shaw Chorale. MasterVoices continues to give several performanc ...

at the

Harvard Memorial Church The Memorial Church of Harvard University is a building on the campus of Harvard University. It is an inter-denominational Protestant church. History Predecessors The first distinct building for worship at Harvard University was Holden Chapel, b ...

, Cambridge on 2 May of that year, conducted by Robert Shaw.

Recordings

Martha Lipton Martha Lipton (April 6, 1913 – November 28, 2006) was an American operatic mezzo-soprano. Biography Lipton was born in New York City. She won a scholarship to the Juilliard School and made her debut as Pauline in Tchaikovsky's opera '' The Quee ...

(mezzo-soprano) ''In the Beginning''

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...

Sony *Ameral Gunson (mezzo-soprano) King's College Choir of Cambridge

Stephen Cleobury Sir Stephen John Cleobury ( ; 31 December 1948 – 22 November 2019)Dunedin Consort Dunedin Consort is Scotland's leading baroque ensemble based in Edinburgh, Scotland, recognised for its vivid and insightful performances and recordings. Formed in 1995 and named after Din Eidyn, the ancient Brittonic Celtic name of Edinburgh Cast ...

Ben Parry Linn 2001 *Beth Mackay (mezzo-soprano) on ''In the Beginning'' Choir of Merton College, Oxford, Benjamin Nicholas & Peter Phillips Delphian *

Susanne Mentzer Susanne Mentzer (born January 21, 1957) is an American operatic mezzo-soprano. She is best known for singing trouser roles, such as Cherubino in Mozart's ''Le nozze di Figaro'', Idamante in Mozart's ''Idomeneo'', Octavian in Richard Strauss' ''Der ...

(mezzo-soprano) on ''American Choral Music Volume 1'' with Corigliano, Foss, Ives and Persichetti The University of Texas Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra, James Morrow Naxos American Classics - 8559299“James Morrow leads the University of Texas Chamber Singers in a program of pieces by Persichetti, Ives, Corigliano, Foss, and yes, Copland …. A demanding group, choral music fans should find much to enjoy here… this disc has an enjoyable variety of structure and technique.” Opera Today *''Twentieth Century Masters Volume 3 - The American School'' The Choir of New College Oxford, Edward Higginbottom Avie *Frances Bourne (mezzo-soprano) ''In the Beginning'' Gloucester Cathedral Choir, Andrew Nethsingha Avie *

D'Anna Fortunato D'Anna Fortunato (born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on February 21, 1945) is an American mezzo-soprano. She has long been an admired favorite on the American orchestral-concert scene, while establishing herself as a respected operatic artist as we ...

(mezzo-soprano) ''An American Collage'' Bucknell University Rooke Chapel Choir, William Payn Albany

References

{{Authority control 1947 compositions Compositions by Aaron Copland