Download Leonard Bernstein “West Side Story”

Leonard Bernstein
“West Side Story”
Richford High Symphonic Band
May 5th, 2006
Ms. Lara
May
rd
3 ,
2006
In front of you is a new piece of Music
titled “West Side Story.”
Today we will learn a little about the
history of the piece and it’s composer.
Leonard Bernstein's Life
Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence,
Massachusetts in 1918.
Bernstein learned to play the piano at a very
young age.
After graduation from Boston Latin School in
1935, Bernstein attended Harvard University ,
where he studied music with Walter Piston , he
then attended the Curtis Institute of Music in
Philadelphia.
Young Bernstein
As with many gifted
American children,
Bernstein had to prevail
over his hard-working
father’s concern that
music did not offer him
a secure, stable future ,
but Leonard continued to
pursue his dream no
matter what anyone else
thought.
Accomplishments
Bernstein was a
highly regarded
conductor, composer,
pianist, and educator,
and best known to the
public as long-time
music director of the
New York
Philharmonic
Orchestra.
Other Information
As a young child Bernstein often performed
the piano variations of Aaron Copland.
His Father went from a Fish Cleaner to a
Businessman.
Leonard had three children Jamie,
Alexander, and Nina.
Other Information
Bernstein received many
honors. He was elected in
1981 to the American
Academy of Arts and
Letters, which gave him a
Gold Medal.
Bernstein
also received
many medals from the
Beethoven Society.
Bernstein's biggest Influence
was…..
George
Gershwin
An American composer
born in Brooklyn,
New York.
September 26, 1898 - July 11, 1937.
Bernstein’s Death
Died: October 14th, 1990
Location of death: New
York City
Cause of death: Heart
Failure
Remains: Buried, Green
Wood Cemetery,
Brooklyn, NY
West Side Story
West Side Story is a
modern version of the
Romeo and Juliet story.
The rival families of
Verona are now rival
gangs of white
immigrants and Puerto
Ricans on the streets of
Manhattan's Upper West
Side.
In the Making…
This is Bernstein
rehearsing at the
piano with
female members
of the West Side
Story cast.
Broadway
West
side story’s
debut on Broadway
was in1957.
The concept
underlying the play
was to transfer Romeo
and Juliet to a
contemporary setting
and make the story a
musical.
Musical Scores
Bernstein's score for the
musical has been
extremely popular.
Some of the songs include
"Something's Coming,"
“Maria," "America,"
"Somewhere," "Tonight,"
"Gee, Officer Krupke," "I
Feel Pretty," "One Hand,
One Heart," and "Cool."
Awards
1961 Academy Award Winner(Best Picture)
1957 Tony Award Nominee (Best Musical)
For More Information…
www.westsidestory.com
www.leonardbernstein.c
om
www.georgegershwin.com
www.filmsite.org