Appalachian Spring was composed in 1943-44 as a ballet for Miss Martha Graham on a commission from the Elisabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation. It was first performed by Miss Graham and her company at the Coolidge Festival in theLibrary of Congress, Washington, D.C., on October 30, 1944.

The present version is scored for the original chamber ensemble of thirteen instruments. It is a condensed version of the ballet (identical with the original suitederived from the ballet for symphony orchestra...