Leonard Bernstein appreciation thread

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 1:02pm

This man is my all-time favorite composer and well just a genius...I've had the honor of playing West Side Story twice and I've never played anything as complex, rich, difficult and powerful as that amazing score. So let's show some love to a truly gifted and influential man.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 1:05pm

I wish he would have written MORE for the theatre, instead of concentrating on conducting and symposiums. I think he liked the "limelight" up front too much.

Our loss. We only have a few theatrical scores to enjoy. But they're gems, to be sure.

[Pippin]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 1:09pm

the man will forever be remembered as a genius. I haven't heard all scores, but my all time favorite is candide. the overture is the best ever written for the theatre IMO (Gypsy is right behind, don't worry gypsy-ites.) and one of my very favorite songs of all time is make our garden grow.

outside of theatre, though. just to see this man conduct an orchestra brings tears to my eyes. he may be the most passionate man I have ever seen when it comes to music. you can hear it in his scores. you can see it in his face. he was also able to bring things out of 300-year old scores that no other man could. I wish he was alive today. He will be remembered as making one of the greatest impressions on the music world in history.

[kgee30]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 1:29pm

Awesome; I'm totally obsessed with Candide right now, and nothing cheers me up on a crappy day like that overture. His music has such life in it.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 1:31pm

i love his music from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

[Pippin]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 1:34pm

I need to get that recording of 1600. I need more Bernstein in my life!!! I've never heard it.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 1:36pm

"The President Jefferson March, The President Jefferson Luncheon March, The President Jefferson Luncheon Party March, The President Jefferson Sunday Luncheon Party March!"

[MoonOnAstring]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 2:00pm

I love his brilliant score to "On the Waterfront"... the way that music works in that movie is incredible.

[justme2]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 2:04pm

Bernstein fan here myself, and happy to see this thread.

I love his work for On The Town, and I agree with the On the Waterfront assessment above. Fantastic work.

[Isabella2]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 3:30pm

He really was a genius, I wasn't even sure if he was dead till i read this thread. His music really does brighten my day, i can't say enough good things about him. THis pas summer I was obsessing over Candide and now I'm obsessingover wonderful town.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 4:38pm

Pippin, I've heard similar wonderful things about his conducting. I had the joy of watching an archive at the museum of the PBS special "Bernstein conducts West Side Story." Between playing along and watching him conduct and he gave advice to the clarinet on something(me: eee I kinda just got advice from Bernstein), he just put so much feeling into it.

He also was a great humanitarian, I've read biographies on him. Without question, if I can sit down w/, have dinner w/ or talk to any person dead or alive, my answer would be him.