Editing Appalachian Spring (section)

=== Prologue ===
{{Block indent|<score sound="1">
\layout { indent = 1\cm }
\relative c''
<<
\new Staff \with { instrumentName = "B♭ Cl." } { \set Staff.midiInstrument = "clarinet" \clef treble \transposition bes \key b \major \time 4/4 \tempo "Very slowly" 4 = 66 { s1 | r2 b\p( | dis4 fis dis fis)~ | fis r } }
\new Staff \with { instrumentName = "Vla." } { \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \clef alto \key a \major \time 4/4 \tempo "Very slowly" 4 = 66 { r2 a,,4\mp--\upbow( a--) | a1--~\> | a1~\! | a2 } }
>> </score>}}The ballet opens with a soft, quiet A major triad in the clarinet.{{Sfn|Copland|2000|p=1}}{{Sfn|Fauser|2017|p=62}} The cello sustains the A [[Tonic (music)|tonic]] while the flute, violin, and viola stack build the A major triad again, this time with the [[Dominant (music)|dominant]] chord (E major) stacked in top. This creates a luminous scenescape, but the dissonances foreshadow danger.{{Sfn|Fauser|2017|pp=62–63}}{{Sfn|Crist|2005|pp=171–172}} Copland conjures images of a pastoral scene by ending the chords with a deep tonic in the piano and following it with a shepherd flute-like reiteration of the triad.{{Sfn|Fauser|2017|pp=63–64}} This opening polychord, consisting of the tonic A major and dominant E major, is found throughout the score as a foundation for many of the melodies and tonalities.{{Sfn|Fauser|2017|p=64}} The Revivalist enters first, in darkness, followed by the Pioneer Woman, who takes a seat in her rocking chair. Then the Husbandman and Bride enter; as the Husbandman pauses to observe the home, daylight illuminates the stage.{{Sfn|Rutkoff|Scott|1995|p=220}}{{Sfn|Thomas|1995|p=155}} The four Followers join the Revivalist, who has observed the land with the Pioneer Woman.{{Sfn|Rutkoff|Scott|1995|p=221}} The two-minute opening has set up the themes present throughout the ballet, and Copland employed the upwards building of chords to depict a "nonmilitant fanfare", as Graham described in the early scripts.{{Sfn|Rutkoff|Scott|1995|p=221}}{{Sfn|Pollack|1999|p=397}}