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was the embodiment of what a composer can hope to become. Copland was very much in touch not only with himself and his feelings, but with the audience he intended to reach. Very few composers have a concrete idea of what "types" of people they wish their music to ....

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.... heart was truly in creating music that people other than musicians could appreciate. It was upon his return to America in 1924 that he decided that he would write ". . .truly American music." He traveled throughout America, getting a taste of what the "common man" was listening to. During these travels he strayed into Mexico, and wrote the highly successful El Salon Mexico. A quote from the fall of 1932 sums up his intentions in writing this piece: "Any composer who goes outside his native land wants to return bearing musical souvenirs." This is exactly what he did. The piece is a lively adaptation of Frances Toor's Cancionero Mexicano, ....