Aaron Copland originally composed "Quiet City" in 1939 for the play of the same name. The play failed, but Copland's piece went on to become one of his best-loved & most frequently performed works. "Quiet City" is essentially an urban nocturne, the aural equivalent of Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks," and is built around two themes: an evocative trumpet call, and a dotted figure for the strings. To round out the piece Copland added haunting interludes performed either by an English horn or an oboe (in this case an oboe). Series: "La Jolla Symphony & Chorus" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 33383]