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WEST SIDE STORY
COMPOSED BY LEONARD BERNSTEIN
Presentation by Julie Horton
Contents
Leonard Bernstein’s Biography
The History of West Side Story
Listening Guide:
i.
ii.
iii.
“America”
“Maria”
“Somewhere”
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein wanted people to “remember me not because of the West Side Story
, which is a good piece, I wanted people to remember me as a serious composer who
wrote Kaddish, Jeremiah, The Age of Anxiety.“
The Young Bernstein
Born August 25, 1918 in
New York City.
His father wanted him to
join the family business.
Leonard battled his father
to study music and won.
Married and had 3
children
Mentoring Bernstein
Bernstein had mentors
who helped him with his
craft.
Aaron Copland
helped him with
compositions
Young Leonard Bernstein
and Aaron Copeland.
Serge Koussevitsky
mentored him in
conducting at
Tangelwood, MA.
 Leonard Bernstein
& Serge Koussevitsky
“West Side Story” History
Is an original production written
in 1957 by playwright Arthur
Laurents.
Lyrics by Stephen Sondeim.
Tragic loved story based on
Romeo and Juliette
Set in the 1950’s in New York
City, it is a conflict about race
Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, Hal Prince,
Robert Griffith (seated), Leonard
Bernstein, and Jerome Robbins on the set
of West Side Story.
Challenges
“The challenge was
to create a show
that treads the fine
line between opera
and Broadway,
ballet and just
dancing, realism
and poetry” –
Arthur Laurents,
Playwright
Maria & Tony In Love
Set in the 1950’s in New
York City, this tragic love
story is about Maria and
Tony. They are caught
between the rivalries of
the Puerto Rican gang
called the Sharks and the
self-proclaimed native
white gang called the Jets.
Gang Rivalry in West Side Story
Two gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, battle for supremacy over the streets. The Sharks – seen aboveare a Puerto Rican gang. Maria’s brother is the head of the gang and he does not like his sister
dating Tony, a member of the Jets gang.
The Jets
The Jets have ownership of the streets until the Sharks challenge them.
Outside forces threaten Maria and Tony’s love.
Bernardo and his sister Maria. He demands she no longer see Tony.
The Sharks confront the Jets.
Unable to stop fighting, the rivalry between the Jets and Sharks ends in tragedy.
From Stage to Movie
West Side Story
began as a stage
performance and in
1961 it was made into
a movie.
Nominated for eleven
Academy Awards
including Best Music.
The Movie
The movie starred
Natalie Wood as
Maria.
“America”
“America“ is
sung on a
building
rooftop in
New York City
by the Sharks
and their girl
friends.
“America”
“America” is
written in a
mixed meter.
As one
vocalist sings
about Puerto
Rico another
sings about
the US,
alternating
back and
forth.
“Maria”
The song
“Maria” is an
excellent
example of
word painting.
It is a
technique of
lengthening
the music.
“Somewhere”
“Somewhere” is a poignant
song about hope.
Memorable
West Side Story
has become a
timeless piece
performed year
after year in
theatres and
schools across
America.
Bibliography



Bergan, Ronald. Glamorous Musicals: Fifty Years of Hollywood’s Ultimate. London: Octupus
Books Limited, 1984. Print.
Legends of Broadway: Portraits of Creativity on Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note, Disc
1. Production by American Masters. 2004. DVD.
Matheopoulos, Helena. Maestro: Encounters with Conductors of Today. New York: Harper &
Row, Publishers, 1982. Print.

Sennett, Ted. Hollywood Musicals. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, 1981. Print.

West Side Story. Prod. Seven Arts Productions Inc. Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 1961. DVD.