Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
One
of the most influential American musical figures of the second half of
the twentieth century, Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) left an
unparalleled legacy as a conductor, composer, pianist and teacher.
Bernstein became the Musical Director of the New York Philharmonic in
1958, a post he held until 1969. His rich legacy of over 500
recordings, mostly with the New York Philharmonic, spans works of
Beethoven, Brahms, Copland, Haydn, Schumann, Sibelius, and Mahler. His
own compositions include the Jeremiah Symphony (1943), the Age of
Anxiety (1949), Candide (1956), Mass (1971), and Kaddish (1963).
Bernstein also composed music for Broadway stage hits such as On the
Town (1944), and the West Side Story (1957). Through his television
program the Young People's Concerts, he was instrumental in
introducing classical music to the popular audience.- Zeynep Ucbasaran
COMPOSITIONS Bernstein Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Psalm cxlviii (148), voice and piano (1935)
Piano Trio (1937, unpublished)
Music for 2 Pianos (1937; included in musical On the Town, 1944)
Music for the Dance, nos. 1 and 2, piano (1938, unpublished; included in musical On the Town, 1944)
Piano Sonata (1938)
The Birds, incidental music (1939, unpubd)
Scenes from the City of Sin, piano 4-hands (1939, unpublished)
4 Studies, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and piano (c.1940, unpublished)
Sonata, violin and piano (1940)
The Peace, incidental music (1941, unpubd)
Arrangement of Copland's El salon Mexico, piano/2 pianos (1941)
Sonata, clarinet and piano (1942)
Symphony No. 1, 'Jeremiah', mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1942)
- Lamentation, mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1943) [arr. of 3rd movt]
I Hate Music, a cycle of five kid songs, voice and piano (1943)
7 Anniversaries, piano (1943)
Fancy Free, ballet (1944
- Suite, orchestra (1944, withdrawn)
- 3 Dance Variations from Fancy Free, orchestra (1944)
On the Town, musical (1944; orchestrated by H. Kay; 3 Dance Episodes, 1945; also for band)
Hashkivenu (Hebrew liturgy), tenor, chorus and organ (1945)
Afterthought, voice and piano (1945, withdrawn) [study for the ballet Facsimile]
Facsimile, ballet (1946; ... choreographic essay for orchestra, 1946)
Reena (Israeli folksong), optional wordless chorus and chamber orchestra (1947, unpubd)
Simch Na (Hebrew folksong), chorus and piano (arr. 1947)
La bonne cuisine, 4 recipes, voice and piano (1947)
Brass Music (1948)
- Rondo for Lifey, trumpet and piano
- Elegy for Mippy I, horn and piano
- Elegy for Mippy II, trombone solo
- Waltz for Mippy III, tuba and piano
- Fanfare for Bima, brass quartet
4 Anniversaries, piano (1948)
Symphony No. 2, 'The Age of Anxiety', after W.H. Auden, piano and orchestra (1949; rev. 1965)
Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, clarinet and jazz ensemble (1949; arr. with orchestra, 1997)
2 Love Songs (Rilke), voice and piano (1949)
Yidgal (Hebrew liturgy), chorus and piano (1950)
Peter Pan, songs and choruses for J. M. Barrie (1950; orchestrated by Kay)
4 Sabras, piano (c. 1950s)
Trouble in Tahiti, opera (1951)
Silhouette (Galilee), voice and piano (1951)
Get Hep!, voice and piano (1955, withdrawn)
Wonderful Town, musical (1953; orchestrated by D. Walker)
Serenade, after Plato's Symposium, violin, string orchestra, harp and percussion (1954)
On the Waterfront, film score (1954; Symphonic Suite, orchestra, 1955)
On the Waterfront, voice and piano (1954, withdrawn)
5 Anniversaries, piano (1954)
The Lark, chorus (1955) [French choruses based on Medieval folk songs and Latin choruses from the Roman mass]
Salome, incidental music (1955, unpubd, withdrawn)
Candide, comic operetta (1956; rev. 1973; orchestrated by Kay, Bernstein)
West Side Story, musical (1957; orchd by S. Ramin, Kostal, Bernstein; Symphonic Dances, orchestra, 1960)
Harvard Choruses, chorus (1957, withdrawn)
The Firstborn, incidental music (1958, unpubd, withdrawn)
Bridal Suite, piano 4-hands (1960)
Fanfare (I) for inauguration of J.F. Kennedy, orchestra (1961)
Fanfare (II) for 25th anniversary of the High School of Music and Art, orchestra (1961)
Symphony No. 3, 'Kaddish', soprano, speaker, chorus, boys' chorus and orchestra (1963)
Chichester Psalms, chorus or male chorus, boy soprano and orchestra (1965)
So Pretty (Comden, Green), voice and piano (1968)
Shivaree, double brass ensemble and percussion (1969) [incorporated into theatre piece Mass, 1971]
Warm-Up, chorus (1970) [incorporated into Mass, 1971]
Mass, music theatre piece (1971; orchestrated by J. Tunick, Kay, Bernstein)
- 2 Meditations from Mass, orchestra (1971)
- 3 Meditations from Mass, cello and piano (1971)
- Meditation III from Mass, orchestra (1972, withdrawn)
- 3 Meditations from Mass, cello and orchestra (1977; arr. for cello and piano, 1978)
A Little Norton Lecture, male chorus (1973, unpubd) [an. as Storyette H.M. in Songfest, 1977]
Dybbuk (originally called Dybbuk Variations), ballet (1974; Dybbuk Suite Nos. 1-2, "Dybbuk Variations", orchestra, 1974)
By Bernstein, revue (1975, withdrawn) [based on unpubd and withdrawn theatre songs]
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, musical (1976, withdrawn; orchd by Ramin, Kay) [reworked as White House Cantata, 1997]
- White House Cantata, soloists, chorus and orch (arr. Harmon, Ramin, 1997)
Slava!, a political overture for orchestra (1977)
CBS Music, orchestra (1977, withdrawn)
Songfest, a cycle of American Poems for 6 singers and orchestra (1977)
Haiku Souvenirs, five songs, voice and piano (1978)
The Madwoman of Central Park West, musical (1979) [only 2 songs by LB: Up, Up, Up; My New Friends]
Piccola serenata, voice and piano (1979)
Divertimento, orchestra (1980)
A Musical Toast, orchestra (1980)
Halil, nocturne, solo flute, piccolo, alto flute, percussion, harp and string orchestra (1981)
Olympic Hymn, chorus and orchestra (1981) [based on "Proud" from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue]
Moby Diptych, piano (1981)
Touches, piano (1981)
A Quiet Place, opera (1983; rev. 1984 in 3 acts, includes Trouble in Tahiti; Suite,orchestra, arr. by Ramin, Thomas, 1991)
Opening Prayer, baritone and orchestra (1986)
Missa brevis, counter-tenor and chorus (or 7 solo voices) and perc. (1988) [based on music from The Lark, 1955]
Arias and Barcarolles, mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano 4-hands (1988)
13 Anniversaries, piano (1988)
Concerto for Orchestra, "Jubilee Games" (1986-89)
Variations on an Octatonic Scale, recorder and cello (1989)
Dance Suite, brass quintet (1989)
- Fanfare (movement I from Dance Suite), winds, brass and percussion (1989)
WORKS BY GENRE Bernstein Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Fancy Free, ballet (1944)
On the Town, musical (1944; orchestrated by H. Kay)
Facsimile, ballet (1946)
Peter Pan, songs and choruses for J. M. Barrie (1950; orchestrated by Kay)
Trouble in Tahiti, opera (1951)
Wonderful Town, musical (1953; orchestrated by D. Walker)
Candide, comic operetta (1956; rev. 1973; orchestrated by Kay, Bernstein)
West Side Story, musical (1957; orchestrated by S. Ramin, Kostal, Bernstein)
Mass, music theatre piece (1971; orchestrated by J. Tunick, Kay, Bernstein)
Dybbuk, ballet (1974) [originally called Dybbuk Variations]
By Bernstein, revue (1975, withdrawn) [based on unpubd and withdrawn theatre songs]
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, musical (1976, withdrawn; orchd by Ramin, Kay) [reworked as White House Cantata, 1997]
The Madwoman of Central Park West, musical (1979) [only 2 songs by LB: Up, Up, Up; My New Friends]
A Quiet Place, opera (1983; rev. 1984 in 3 acts, includes Trouble in Tahiti)
Orchestra
Symphony No. 1, 'Jeremiah', mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1942)
Suite from Fancy Free (1944, withdrawn) [based on ballet]
3 Dance Variations from Fancy Free, orchestra (1944)
3 Dance Episodes from On the Town, (1945; also arr. for band) [based on musical]
Facsimile, choreographic essay for orchestra (1946) [based on ballet]
Reena (Israeli folksong), optional wordless chorus and chamber orchestra (1947, unpubd)
Symphony No. 2, 'The Age of Anxiety', after W.H. Auden, piano and orchestra (1949; rev. 1965)
Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront (1955) [based on film score]
Overture to Candide, orchestra (1956)
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (1960) [based on musical]
Fanfare I, orchestra (1961) [for inauguration of J.F. Kennedy]
Fanfare II, orchestra (1961) [for 25th anniversary of the High School of Music and Art]
2 Meditations from Mass, orchestra (1971)
Meditation III from Mass, orchestra (1972, withdrawn)
Dybbuk Suite Nos. 1-2, "Dybbuk Variations" (1974) [based on ballet]
Slava!, a political overture for orchestra (1977)
CBS Music, orchestra (1977, withdrawn)
Divertimento, orchestra (1980)
A Musical Toast, orchestra (1980)
Concerto for Orchestra, "Jubilee Games" (1986-89)
Orchestral Suite from A Quiet Place,orchestra (arr. by Ramin, M.T. Thomas, 1991) [based on opera , 1983]
Band
On the Town, musical (1944; orchestrated by H. Kay; 3 Dance Episodes, 1945; also for band)
Fanfare (I) for inauguration of J.F. Kennedy, orchestra (1961; arr. for band by Ramin)
Fanfare (II) for 25th anniversary of the High School of Music and Art, orchestra (1961; arr. for band by Ramin)
Shivaree, double brass ensemble and percussion (1969) [incorporated into theatre piece Mass, 1971]
Fanfare (movement I from Dance Suite), winds, brass and percussion (1989)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Symphony No. 2, 'The Age of Anxiety', after W.H. Auden, piano and orchestra (1949; rev. 1965)
Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, clarinet and jazz ensemble (1949)
Serenade, after Plato's Symposium, violin, string orchestra, harp and percussion (1954)
3 Meditations from Mass, cello and orchestra (1977; arr. for cello and piano, 1978)
Halil, nocturne, solo flute, piccolo, alto flute, percussion, harp and string orchestra (1981)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Hashkivenu (Hebrew liturgy), tenor, chorus and organ (1945)
Reena (Israeli folksong), optional wordless chorus and chamber orchestra (1947, unpubd)
Symphony No. 3, 'Kaddish', soprano, speaker, chorus, boys' chorus and orchestra (1963)
Chichester Psalms, chorus or male chorus, boy soprano and orchestra (1965)
Mass, music theatre piece (1971; orchestrated by J. Tunick, Kay, Bernstein)
Olympic Hymn, chorus and orchestra (1981) [based on "Proud" from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue]
A White House Cantata, soloists, chorus and orch (arr. Harmon, Ramin, 1997) [based on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., 1976]
Choral
Simch Na (Hebrew folksong), chorus and piano (arr. 1947)
Yidgal (Hebrew liturgy), chorus and piano (1950)
The Lark, chorus (1955) [French choruses based on Medieval folk songs and Latin choruses from the Roman mass]
Harvard Choruses, chorus (1957, withdrawn)
Warm-Up, chorus (1970) [incorporated into Mass, 1971]
A Little Norton Lecture, male chorus (1973, unpubd) [an. as Storyette H.M. in Songfest, 1977]
Missa brevis, counter-tenor and chorus (or 7 solo voices) and perc. (1988) [based on music from The Lark, 1955]
Chamber
Piano Trio (1937, unpublished)
Music for the Dance, nos. 1 and 2 (1938, unpublished; included in musical On the Town, 1944) ?????
4 Studies, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and piano (c.1940, unpublished)
Arrangement of Copland's El salon Mexico, piano/2 pianos (1941)
Brass Music (1948)
- Rondo for Lifey, trumpet and piano
- Elegy for Mippy I, horn and piano
- Elegy for Mippy II, trombone solo
- Waltz for Mippy III, tuba and piano
- Fanfare for Bima, brass quartet
Shivaree, double brass ensemble and percussion (1969) [incorporated into theatre piece Mass, 1971]
Variations on an Octatonic Scale, recorder and cello (1989)
Dance Suite, brass quintet (1989)
Solo Instrument
Sonata, violin and piano (1940)
Sonata, clarinet and piano (1942)
Piano
Music for 2 Pianos (1937) [included in musical On the Town, 1944]
Music for the Dance, nos. 1 and 2, piano (1938, unpublished; included in musical On the Town, 1944)
Piano Sonata (1938)
Scenes from the City of Sin, piano 4-hands (1939, unpublished)
7 Anniversaries, piano (1943)
4 Anniversaries, piano (1948)
4 Sabras, piano (c. 1950s)
5 Anniversaries, piano (1949-51)
Bridal Suite, piano 4-hands (1960)
Moby Diptych, piano (1981)
Touches, piano (1981)
13 Anniversaries, piano (1988)
Vocal
Psalm cxlviii (148), voice and piano (1935)
Symphony No. 1, 'Jeremiah', mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1942)
I Hate Music, a cycle of five kid songs, voice and piano (1943)
Lamentation, mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1943) [arr. of 3rd movt of Sym. No.1 'Jeremiah']
Afterthought, voice and piano (1945, withdrawn) [study for the ballet Facsimile]
La bonne cuisine, 4 recipes, voice and piano (1947)
2 Love Songs (Rilke), voice and piano (1949)
Silhouette (Galilee), voice and piano (1951)
On the Waterfront, voice and piano (1954, withdrawn)
Get Hep!, voice and piano (1955, withdrawn)
So Pretty (Comden, Green), voice and piano (1968)
Songfest, a cycle of American Poems for 6 singers and orchestra (1977)
Haiku Souvenirs, five songs, voice and piano (1978)
The Madwoman of Central Park West, musical (1979) [only 2 songs by LB: Up, Up, Up; My New Friends]
Piccola serenata, voice and piano (1979)
Opening Prayer, baritone and orchestra (1986)
Arias and Barcarolles, mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano 4-hands (1988)
Incidental/Film
The Birds, incidental music (1939, unpubd)
The Peace, incidental music (1941, unpubd)
On the Waterfront, film score (1954)
Salome, incidental music (1955, unpubd, withdrawn)
The Firstborn, incidental music (1958, unpubd, withdrawn)
BERNSTEIN LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Discovering Leonard Bernstein (Stuard Isacoff, New York Sun)
A Guide to Leonard Bernstein's Candide (sondheimguide.com)
The Infinite Variety of Music (Leonard Bernstein, books.google.com)
The Joy of Music (Leonard Bernstein, books.google.com)
The Legend of Lenny (Alex Ross, The New Yorker)
Leonard Bernstein: A Guide to Research (Paul Laird, books.google.com)
Leonard Bernstein: An American Life (WNYC, New York)
Leonard Bernstein, Boston to Broadway: Shul to Spotlight (Debra Cash, All About Jewish Theatre)
Leonard Bernstein: In Love with Music (Caroline Evensen Lazo, book.google.com)
Leonard Bernstein - Television's Great Communicator (Rebecca Paller, The Paley Center for Media)
Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” Speaks to Today’s World (William Hughes, The People's Voice)
The Original Culture Warrior (Jeremy McCarter, Newsweek)
A Tribute to Lenny (Adrian Tan, The Flying Inkpot)
A Trip to Lenny's: Leonard Bernstein dot com (Steven M. Alper, suite101.com)
Composer's website
Bernstein @ Wikipedia
Bernstein @ American Ballet Theatre
Bernstein @ American Classical Music Hall of Fame
Bernstein @ American Music Preservation
Bernstein @ America's Library
Bernstein @ Answers.com
Bernstein @ bach-cantatas.com
Bernstein @ Boosey & Hawkes
Bernstein @ Carnegie Hall
Bernstein @ Classic Cat
Bernstein @ Classical Archives
Bernstein @ Classical Composers Database
Bernstein @ Classical Net
Bernstein @ Classical Notes
Bernstein @ Classics for Kids
Bernstein @ composition:today
Bernstein @ DSO Kids
Bernstein @ Essentials of Music
Bernstein @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Bernstein @ fanfaire.com
Bernstein @ glbtq.com
Bernstein @ IBDB (Internet Broadway Database)
Bernstein @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Bernstein @ infography.com
Bernstein @ Karadar Classical Music
Bernstein @ The Kennedy Center
Bernstein @ LA Philharmonic
Bernstein @ The Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning
Bernstein @ Library of Congress
Bernstein @ Library of Congress - The MacDowell Colony
Bernstein @ Magazzini-Sonori.it
Bernstein @ mfiles
Bernstein @ Milken Archive of American Jewish Music
Bernstein @ MSN Movies
Bernstein @ Music Academy Online
Bernstein @ MusicWeb International
Bernstein @ NationMaster
Bernstein @ The New York Times
Bernstein @ NNDB
Bernstein @ W.W. Norton
Bernstein @ Notable Biographies
Bernstein @ PBS American Masters
Bernstein @ Piano Society
Bernstein @ Songwriters Hall of Fame
Bernstein @ United States Marine Band
Bernstein @ US Opera
Bernstein @ Virginia Tech
Bernstein @ The Washington Post
Bernstein @ Zeynep Ucbasaran
Streaming Audio
Bernstein @ American Classical Music Hall of Fame
Bernstein @ The Classical MIDI Connection
Bernstein @ Classical Masterpieces
Bernstein @ Kunst der Fuge
Bernstein @ last.fm
Bernstein @ MidiWorld
Bernstein @ NPRmusic
Bernstein @ PRX (Public Radio Exchange)
Bernstein @ Rhapsody
Bernstein @ Voice of America
Recordings
Bernstein @ ArkivMusic
Bernstein @ ClassicsOnline
Bernstein @ YouTube
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