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My short list includes Copland's Appalachian Spring and Fanfare for the Common Man, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (intensly American and still brilliant), and, controversially, Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto.

I see Copland's works as being quite "American" while not resorting to any of the BS associated with today's Americans.  Rhapsody in Blue screams USA and portrays that special point-of-view of the '20's.  Dispite its structural issues, I see it as a very important part of American music.  It captures the idealized American collective conciousness of that particular time. 

Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto is not American but it has always made me think of Rachmaninov's tour of America.  This is one of the most stunning pieces of music to me as it captures how he was thinking in a very raw and absolutely creative way.  Being very American (my family immigrated in the 1750's...I'm 13th generation), of course I do not know the "land of opportunity" thing that drives so many people here and I don't have quite enough reason to want to get the hell out...yet...maybe a few more years.  The adventureous spirit and manifest-destiny-like boldness of the first movement countered with the homesickness of the second is implimented with Rachmaninov's genius.  I am in his head when I play this piece as with many other of his works.

Thats all I can think of now.

LBJ

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