Bernstein, Leonard (1918 - 1990)

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  • Stanley Stewart
    Late Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 1071

    #46
    Hugely enjoyed the first concert in the Bernstein 'Total Immersion series and quickly revisited my Bernstein CD collection so
    that I could engage with the poetry in Songfest; Frank O'Hara, To the Poem, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, The Pennycandystore
    Beyond the El. A Julia de Burgos, Julia de Burgos, To What You Said, Walt Whitman, Three Ensembles, Langston Hughes,
    June Jordan, Anne Bradstreet, Gertrude Stein, Sextet, e.ecummings, Three Solos, Music I Heard With You, Conrad Aiken,
    Zizi's Lament, Gregory Corso, Sonnet, Edna St Vincent Millay,Closing Hymn, Israfel, Edgar Allan Poe. First rate artists;
    Clamma Dale, Rosalind Elias, Nancy Williams, Neil Rosenhein, John Reardon, Donald Gramm, NSO Orchestra of Washington/
    Bernstein. Meaning and clarity heightened with access to the poetry.

    In the Kosh CD, Bernstein, Arias & Barcarolles, I always delight in reading the background notes: "...After playing Mozart &
    Gershwin at the White House in 1960, Leonard Bernstein experienced a somewhat awkward moment. President Eisenhower
    greeted him and said, 'You know, I liked that last piece you played; it's got a theme. I like music with a theme, not all
    them arias and barcarolles...' According to Eisenhower's definition, "Arias & Barcarolles" at first seem to be music without
    a theme, the musical elements are disparate and eclectic. There is twelve-tone music, rhythmic improvisation, late
    romanticism, scat-singing and pure Coplandesque americana. The texts, however, do have a theme which is revealed
    in the opening lines of the turgid "Prelude"; "I love you, it's easy to say it, and so easy to mean it too." We have entered
    the private and sometimes dark thoughts of a couple, and are off on a musical exploration of different aspects of love..."

    A most engaging learning curve.

    Comment

    • BBMmk2
      Late Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 20908

      #47
      Originally posted by Stanley Stewart View Post
      Hugely enjoyed the first concert in the Bernstein 'Total Immersion series and quickly revisited my Bernstein CD collection so
      that I could engage with the poetry in Songfest; Frank O'Hara, To the Poem, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, The Pennycandystore
      Beyond the El. A Julia de Burgos, Julia de Burgos, To What You Said, Walt Whitman, Three Ensembles, Langston Hughes,
      June Jordan, Anne Bradstreet, Gertrude Stein, Sextet, e.ecummings, Three Solos, Music I Heard With You, Conrad Aiken,
      Zizi's Lament, Gregory Corso, Sonnet, Edna St Vincent Millay,Closing Hymn, Israfel, Edgar Allan Poe. First rate artists;
      Clamma Dale, Rosalind Elias, Nancy Williams, Neil Rosenhein, John Reardon, Donald Gramm, NSO Orchestra of Washington/
      Bernstein. Meaning and clarity heightened with access to the poetry.

      In the Kosh CD, Bernstein, Arias & Barcarolles, I always delight in reading the background notes: "...After playing Mozart &
      Gershwin at the White House in 1960, Leonard Bernstein experienced a somewhat awkward moment. President Eisenhower
      greeted him and said, 'You know, I liked that last piece you played; it's got a theme. I like music with a theme, not all
      them arias and barcarolles...' According to Eisenhower's definition, "Arias & Barcarolles" at first seem to be music without
      a theme, the musical elements are disparate and eclectic. There is twelve-tone music, rhythmic improvisation, late
      romanticism, scat-singing and pure Coplandesque americana. The texts, however, do have a theme which is revealed
      in the opening lines of the turgid "Prelude"; "I love you, it's easy to say it, and so easy to mean it too." We have entered
      the private and sometimes dark thoughts of a couple, and are off on a musical exploration of different aspects of love..."

      A most engaging learning curve.
      Very much so. The att5raction was of course Songfest. rarely performed, obvious reasons. I hope they will play scores such as Dybuk, and other lesser known works.
      Don’t cry for me
      I go where music was born

      J S Bach 1685-1750

      Comment

      • pastoralguy
        Full Member
        • Nov 2010
        • 7799

        #48
        Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View Post
        I know exactly what you mean - I must have seen it on TV late 60s/early70s, and many numbers stuck in my head, especially America and Maria, by turns exhilarating and joyfully uplifting. Dad played piano in the clubs and had requests for them all the time..
        I was going to write, 'a friend of mine', but actually she was a work colleague who was one of the most unpleasant human beings I've ever encountered. Anyway, this person told me a story about her sister who sang in clubs in Glasgow, where the following exchange took place...

        Punter - 'Luv, can you sing a request for me please?'

        Singer - 'Sure, I'll try. What is it?'

        Punter - 'That song, 'wie a pie' '

        Singer - ' Um, I'm not sure I know that one. How does it go?'

        Punter - ' You know - Somewhere, over the rainbow, wie a pie...!'

        Comment

        • Stanley Stewart
          Late Member
          • Nov 2010
          • 1071

          #49
          Originally posted by pastoralguy View Post
          I was going to write, 'a friend of mine', but actually she was a work colleague who was one of the most unpleasant human beings I've ever encountered. Anyway, this person told me a story about her sister who sang in clubs in Glasgow, where the following exchange took place...

          Punter - 'Luv, can you sing a request for me please?'

          Singer - 'Sure, I'll try. What is it?'

          Punter - 'That song, 'wie a pie' '

          Singer - ' Um, I'm not sure I know that one. How does it go?'

          Punter - ' You know - Somewhere, over the rainbow, wie a pie...!'
          A real scream, particularly with a Glesga' cadence!

          Comment

          • teamsaint
            Full Member
            • Nov 2010
            • 25225

            #50
            Possible Spielberg biopic .....

            I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

            I am not a number, I am a free man.

            Comment

            • teamsaint
              Full Member
              • Nov 2010
              • 25225

              #51
              News and blog; explore our latest news from performances and reviews to the latest information on our community and education projects.


              Great looking concert.
              I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

              I am not a number, I am a free man.

              Comment

              • Pulcinella
                Host
                • Feb 2014
                • 11062

                #52
                Bumping this thread in the hope that it might become the one for forumites to express their views of Bernstein's music (without the need for trailers ). I have long admired and enjoyed (most of) his compositions, and am pleased that the centenary has encouraged new recordings and Proms concerts, which seem to be bringing others on board or at least causing them to reassess his music, which has often been sniffed at.

                Comment

                • teamsaint
                  Full Member
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 25225

                  #53
                  Good idea Pulcers.
                  I see that the new Pappano Bernstein symphonies is a best seller on Amazon.
                  It’s cerainly on my wish list.
                  Gave Kaddish and Jeremiah a listen the other day, and was very impressed.
                  I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

                  I am not a number, I am a free man.

                  Comment

                  • teamsaint
                    Full Member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 25225

                    #54
                    Music Matters tonight.

                    Tom Service travels to NYC to look at Bernstein’s musical Legacy.
                    I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

                    I am not a number, I am a free man.

                    Comment

                    • BBMmk2
                      Late Member
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 20908

                      #55
                      Rather interesting too. Thoroughly recommend this.
                      Don’t cry for me
                      I go where music was born

                      J S Bach 1685-1750

                      Comment

                      • teamsaint
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 25225

                        #56
                        Trouble in Tahiti available to see here.

                        Opera North won terrific reviews for its production of Leonard Bernstein’s bittersweet one-act satire of suburban angst. To celebrate the great composer’s centenary you can watch the entire opera here, for free


                        Thanks to one of our northern forumites for flagging this up !
                        I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

                        I am not a number, I am a free man.

                        Comment

                        • Barbirollians
                          Full Member
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 11751

                          #57
                          Originally posted by teamsaint View Post
                          Good idea Pulcers.
                          I see that the new Pappano Bernstein symphonies is a best seller on Amazon.
                          It’s cerainly on my wish list.
                          Gave Kaddish and Jeremiah a listen the other day, and was very impressed.
                          Embarrassingly, as I bought these a couple of years ago I have only just got round to listening to Pappano’s Bernstein symphonies. Absolutely outstanding and marvellous soloists too -I never really “got” the Age of Anxiety before this recording.

                          Comment

                          • Pulcinella
                            Host
                            • Feb 2014
                            • 11062

                            #58
                            Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post
                            Embarrassingly, as I bought these a couple of years ago I have only just got round to listening to Pappano’s Bernstein symphonies. Absolutely outstanding and marvellous soloists too -I never really “got” the Age of Anxiety before this recording.
                            I'm considering a Summer BaL on Age of Anxiety; we'll see!
                            Rana wouldn't get the top vote as soloist from me though; have you tried the (almost simultaneously released) BPO/Rattle recording, with Krystian Zimerman as soloist?

                            Comment

                            • teamsaint
                              Full Member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 25225

                              #59
                              I saw a comment earlier on Herbert Chappell’s series of BBC documentaries in the 60s, which included one with Bernstein rehearsing DSCH 5 with the LSO.
                              Anybody know if this still exists ?

                              Incidentally, I was reading about Chappell after enjoying his score to a 1977 BBC version of A Christmas Carol with Michael Hordern.
                              I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

                              I am not a number, I am a free man.

                              Comment

                              • Petrushka
                                Full Member
                                • Nov 2010
                                • 12308

                                #60
                                Originally posted by teamsaint View Post
                                I saw a comment earlier on Herbert Chappell’s series of BBC documentaries in the 60s, which included one with Bernstein rehearsing DSCH 5 with the LSO.
                                Anybody know if this still exists ?
                                I might be wrong but I'm sure a clip of that was included in 'Leonard Bernstein at the BBC' shown on BBC4 some years ago. If it was then the whole programme should exist, no doubt stashed away gathering dust in the BBC vaults.
                                "The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard Haitink

                                Comment

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