THE SECOND HURRICANE: A Play Opera in Two Acts - For High School Performance. MUSIC by AARON COPLAND. Libretto by Edwin Denby. This was Aaron Copland's FIRST OPERA.

SIGNED, INSCRIBED and DATED by AARON COPLAND on the title page:

"For Martin Riskin / Aaron Copland / '72".

Martin Riskin, individually and through his charitable foundation, was a major supporter of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and classical music throughout New York City. A search for "Martin Riskin" together with "New York Philharmonic" will provide a good sampling of Martin Riskin's involvement with classical music and musicians.

Published by Boosey & Hawkes, undated but likely circa 1970, a later printing. (First published by Birchard & Company in 1937, the rights to this work were transferred from Blanchard to Boosey & Hawkes in 1957. Any copies showing Boosey & Hawkes as the publisher were published post 1957.)

Musical score, softcovers, 7x10.25 inches, 112 page score plus 8 introductory pages, including a facsimile of a program for the original 1937 production which was titled: "The Second Hurricane: A Play Opera for High School Children". (I like how "Children" was changed to "Performers" in later editions.) There is a long tradition of great composers writing operas to be performed by young performers.

VERY GOOD condition, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A lovely copy.

RARE with the SIGNATURE and INSCRIPTION of AARON COPLAND from 1972, and the Association to the notable NY Philharmonic supporter Martin Riskin.