A Ballet for Martha

Appalachian Spring was commissioned for dancer and choreographer Martha Graham with funds from the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation. Mrs. Coolidge, who was no relation to Calvin Coolidge, provided the funding for the construction of an auditorium at the Library of Congress, in addition to endowing a concert series that was to be (and continues to be) free to the public. "A Ballet for Martha" was premiered in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library in 1944. Graham christened it "Appalachian Spring." Here is a web address to view the rehearsal score Copland provided for the dancers' pianist. The Coolidge is an intimate space. The original score called for 13 instruments: double string quartet, bass, flute, clarinet, bassoon, and piano


http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200153917/default.html