Aaron Copland

Wikipedia (1900-1990) [US. Modern.]
If you're just gonna listen to one: Clarinet Concerto (Benny Goodman)

Background

Aaron Copland actually set out to create an authentic American sound as a composer. For a Russian Jewish kid who grew up in New York, it's pretty astounding that he pretty much accomplished just that. (Particularly since much of the music he's best known for has a distinct connection in people's mind to the "wild west.")

Orchestral Music

Most of us know some of Copland's music. From the "Beef, it's what's for dinner" commercial music (Hoedown from Rodeo) to the music from Appalachian Spring and Fanfare for the Common Man, his music is all around in popular culture... Lots of his well-known music is incidental music for ballet, but it has entered the standard orchestral repertoire. [Ballet works include Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Dance Panels, and Billy the Kid.]

Appalachian Spring, (original score; video of ballet)
Appalachian Spring (orchestral version)
Rodeo (the dance episodes)

Some of his lesser-known works are fantastic. Benny Goodman commissioned a Clarinet Concerto (Richard Stoltzman), which is kind of jazzy like Gershwin's piano concerto, but not overdone. He wrote one other concerto: Piano Concerto (Earl Wild).

Other interesting pieces


John Henry
Lincoln Portrait (orchestral music with spoken Lincoln quotes - here by Katherine Hepburn)
El Salón México

Chamber Music

Copland had a few distinct periods in the evolution of his composition style -- his chamber music tends to be more modern sounding. If you like that style of music, check out some of these:

Vitebsk (piano trio)
Sextet for Clarinet, Piano & Strings
Piano Quartet