Charles Ives and Aaron Copland are two composers whose works define what is now considered to be the "American sound" in classical music. Though they couldn't have been more different in disposition, these two brilliant minds helped shape the musical consciousness of an entire era. Copland and Ives: A Listener's Guide explains - in vivid, picturesque detail - why we still listen with admiration to the work of these men, and how their personalities and the era in which they lived affected their music. The accompanying CD includes a sampling of their music from masterworks such as Appalachian Spring and The Unanswered Question to less common gems and includes guided listenings of exactly how the pieces work.