By the time Bernstein had completed his piece, however, the Herman band had disbanded and the work was not heard until October 1955 when it was aired in a television show hosted by the composer, called What is Jazz? The clarinet lead intended for Herman was played by the fabulous Al Gallodoro with ABC-TV Studio Band conducted by Bernstein. It was written for the Woody Herman band in 1949, after Herman had begun to include ‘progressive’ works such as Stravinsky’s Ebony Concerto in his repertoire. The first movement (‘Prelude’) is written for brass and rhythm the second (‘Fugue’) is scored for the saxes the third (‘Riff)’ has the solo clarinet with piano backing, followed by the whole ensemble. Its original line-up was a standard dance-band instrumentation of solo clarinet, five saxophones and five trumpets, four trombones, piano, string bass, and drums, with a second percussion part added. Here, he attempts to marry classical Baroque forms (prelude, fugue) with jazz, though the latter style very much dominates proceedings.
This is one of Leonard Bernstein’s most frequently performed shorter concert works, a great favourite with wind ensembles. ‘Lamentation’.Ĭlick to load video 9: Prelude, Fugue and Riffs (1949) Jeremiah’s Lamentations express his deep sorrow over the resulting desolation, as well as hope for the people of God. His prophecy was fulfilled when Solomon’s Temple was destroyed and Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians in 587 BC. In this, the prophet Jeremiah warned the Israelites that their sinfulness would lead to disaster. The soprano was supplanted by a mezzo-soprano whose sung text comes from the Book of Lamentations. I then realized that this movement, and the Scherzo that I planned to follow it, made logical concomitants with the Lamentation.” This sketch lay forgotten for two years until, in the spring of 1942, I began a first movement of a symphony. Leonard Bernstein himself explained how the Symphony came into being: “In the summer of 1939, I made a sketch for a Lamentation for soprano and orchestra.
It led to a rapprochement between father and son, leading the young composer to dedicate ‘Jeremiah’ to his father. When he saw the overwhelming response of the audience that afternoon at Carnegie Hall, he came backstage, overcome with emotion.
It was this work that established Leonard Bernstein as an important American symphonist – and indeed sealed his position as a leading American musician – for the premiere of the ‘Jeremiah’ Symphony in January 1944 came just a few months after Bernstein’s legendary conducting debut with the New York Philharmonic when he became the last-minute stand-in for Bruno Walter.īernstein’s father Sam had not been supportive of his son’s musical ambitions. Listen to Leonard Bernstein Conducts West Side Story on Apple Music and Spotify. Scroll down to discover our selection of the best Bernstein works featuring ten masterpieces by the great composer. There is also no doubt about his status as one of the great maestros of the twentieth century, and classical music’s most accomplished communicators, able to explore and explain the most complex ideas to young audiences. How enduring his works will be, only history will tell, but at least one composition, West Side Story, is an unquestionable masterpiece. Leonard Bernstein (25 August 1918 – 14 October 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, writer, teacher, educationalist, activist and one of the most important figures of his generation in the musical life of his country.
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