Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
 

Remembering Lenny #1834

…a centenary tribute to one of America’s most original composers, and profoundly influential musicians, Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990).

Hour 1

LEONARD BERNSTEINCandide OverturePeter Conte (Aeolian-Skinner/National Cathedral, Washington, DC) JAV 147

BERNSTEINChichester PsalmsChoir of King’s College, Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury; George Hill, treble; Helen Sharp, harp; Joby Burgess, percussion; Richard Gowers (1934-1968-2014 Harrison/King’s College Chapel) KGS 0021

BERNSTEINA Simple Song, fr MassPhil Snedecor, trumpet; Paul Skevington (1998 Steiner-Reck/St. Luke Catholic Church, McLean, VA) Summit 494

BERNSTEINHashkiveinuHans-Peter Blochwitz, tenor; BBC Singers/Avner Itai; Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (1923 Rushworth & Dreaper/St. Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, London) Naxos 8.559407

BERNSTEINYevarechecha –Michael Sokol, baritone; Joan Barr, piano; Aaron David Miller (1951 Aeolian-Skinner/Kilbourn Hall, Rochester, NY) Naxos 8.559407

BERNSTEIN (arr. Marshall):  West Side StoryMedley –Wayne Marshall (1992 Fisk/Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX) Delos 3228

Filler: A Simple Song (see above)

Hour 2

WILLIAM SCHUMAN (arr. Adler):  When Jesus Wept, fr New England TriptychBarbara Harbach (1983 Fisk/Downtown Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY) Gasparo 258

(as background) NED ROREM: Rain over the Quaker graveyard, fr View from the Oldest HouseAndrew Peters (1965-2015 Schantz/2nd Presbyterian Church, Saint Louis, MO) Regent 508

HERMAN BERLINSKIThe Burning BushBarbara Harbach (1990 Möller/Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC) Naxos 8.559446

BERNSTEINMissa BrevisDerek Lee Ragin, alto; Atlanta Symphony Chorus/Robert Shaw. Telarc 80181

BERNSTEIN (arr. Eddington):  West Side Story (suite) –Jelani Eddington (1928 Wurlitzer/Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, AL) ALA 1783

Filler: Candide Overture (see above)

In a 1933 letter to his friend Sid Ramin, Bernstein expressed his excitement that the new suburban home into which he and his family were moving might allow them to purchase an organ for him:

"You should see the place! It's bigger, I think, than the two-family home I lived in last year... It is beautiful in Newton! Our house couldn’t be gorgeouser than it is. And guess what!! I’m getting an organ for Newton!!!!"

See a copy of that letter (courtesy of the Leonard Bernstein Estate) by clicking here. Bernstein had been an organ enthusiast from his early years through experience of it at Mishkan Tefila, the synagogue that his family attended.

Author and journalist Judith Kogan also provided us with a special feature for our second hour, devoted to Bernstein as teacher.