Aaron Copland grew up on Dean Washington

Arguably the most famous resident of Prospect Heights of all time in Aaron Copland. He lived on Washington & Dean in what is now a yellow brick Scarano building. I found a link about his autobiography on the Brooklyn Eagle. Click
http://bit.ly/Copland_in_PH
to read more. Here are some selected bits:

Aaron Copland wrote: To any boy living there it would have seemed like an ordinary Brooklyn street. There were our neighbors: a baker, a painter, a butcher, a candy store across the street, a large grocery store down the block (no chain stores yet), and of course, the corner saloon with its occasional neighborhood drunks. Culture could hardly be said to be a familiar word on our street, yet it wasn’t entirely absent from the area. A 10-minute walk up Washington Avenue brings you to Eastern Parkway where you will find the Brooklyn Museum. (It was there, aged ten, that I suffered my first ‘cultural’ shock at the sight of a nude statue.) Ten minutes in the opposite direction from our house was the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where I heard my first symphony concert when I was 16.

Brooklyn Eagle wrote: In 1897, Aaron’s father, Harris, moved his business, H.M. Copland’s Department Store, from 626-628 Washington Ave. at Dean Street to a new building at 630-632 Washington built expressly for the store with living quarters above and to the side in the same building. The store dealt mainly in drygoods, shoes, toys and household items. “Corsets and ribbons were big” sellers. From 1906 on, the store had a telephone. Aaron remembered the number as Prospect 4666.

A horse and wagon was kept in a local livery for deliveries and was used for family weekend trips to Brighton Beach. Business was good and the store expanded to include 771-773 Dean Street in 1907.

The greatest American composer, in my back yard... interesting - thanks!

wow, that is cool. Thanks for posting it.

He went to Old P.S. Nine on the NE corner of Vanderbilt and Sterling, as did Clara Bow (silent film "star") and Howard Cosell (mouthy sportscaster)

Other area celebrities include Joan Rivers and Frederik Pohl.

What's Joan Rivers' connection?

Bricktop wrote: What's Joan Rivers' connection?

She grew up in the neighborhood. She lived on Eastern Parkway, where her father had a medical office.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=Bricktop]What's Joan Rivers' connection?

She grew up in the neighborhood. She lived on Eastern Parkway, where her father had a medical office.

um, any idea where medical office was on EP?

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=Carnivore][quote=Bricktop]What's Joan Rivers' connection?

She grew up in the neighborhood. She lived on Eastern Parkway, where her father had a medical office.

um, any idea where medical office was on EP?
Nope, that's as much detail as wikipedia offers. But it does reference one of her books for the statement. Might be time for a trip to the library...

I respectfully disagree that Copland should be considered the area's finest resident and composer. That honor rightfully belongs to Foxy Brown. She can also go toe to toe with anyone in a streefight. How skilled was old Aaran at hair pulling or wielding a box cutter? I rest my case.

Jack Krohn wrote: I respectfully disagree that Copland should be considered the area's finest resident and composer. That honor rightfully belongs to Foxy Brown. She can also go toe to toe with anyone in a streefight. How skilled was old Aaran at hair pulling or wielding a box cutter? I rest my case.

...I just figured out why Jack likes AY!

Listening to a, uh... realistically loud Fanfare for the Common Man in his honor, right now. My neighbors thank you.

Jack Krohn wrote: How skilled was old Aaran at hair pulling or wielding a box cutter? I rest my case.

Yeah, but he could flash his privates with the best of 'em.

Jack Krohn wrote: How skilled was old Aaran at hair pulling or wielding a box cutter? I rest my case.

Walter Damroch would disagree:

history.com wrote: Indeed, at the 1925 premiere of his Organ Symphony, conductor Walter Damrosch of the New York Symphony shocked the audience in attendance by addressing them before the performance: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you will agree that if a gifted young man can write a symphony like this at 23," he said before taking a dramatic pause, "within five years he will be ready to commit murder."

In fact, after seven more years in which each of his new works was, in the words of Tilson Thomas "more spiky, dangerous and provocative than the last," Copland entered an entirely unexpected phase of his career....

you know

i always confuse the two for each other

i blame this

on a public school education

jeffrey wrote: Yeah, but he could flash his privates with the best of 'em.

raulism wrote: Walter Damroch would disagree:

[quote=history.com]Indeed, at the 1925 premiere of his Organ Symphony

Et voila.

That is really cool. I love Aaron Copland. To listen to his music is to really hear american music. I find it very exciting.

Didn't Copeland write that piece that endless repeats that Shaker tune? Drives me nuts.

I'd vote for another Brooklyn kid, George Gershwin.

Play Ground wrote: Didn't Copeland write that piece that endless repeats that Shaker tune? Drives me nuts.

I'd vote for another Brooklyn kid, George Gershwin.

"Simple Gifts" used in "Appalachian Spring."

Agreed. Hate that f*cking tune.

Play Ground wrote: I'd vote for another Brooklyn kid, George Gershwin.

Oh hell ya.

Happy birthday, Aaron Copland.

Aaron Copland would be 115 on Saturday. We're celebrating tomorrow Thursday 11/12 9pm-ish at Tooker Alley on Washington near Lincoln. 

I'm hoping that if we upgrade the PS9 auditorium, we can rename it after him. See

http://ideas.pbnyc.org/place/382435

By the way, Aaron Copland was blacklisted by Joseph McCarthy, something that Foxy Brown has yet to accomplish. 

In any case, you are welcomed to join us and celebrate one of our local heroes. 

I was not aware Joseph McCarthy was still blacklisting people.