Leonard Bernstein

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Leonard BernsteinWest Side Story

• Richford High Symphonic Band
• May 5th, 2006
• Ms. Lara

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May 3rd, 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 its composer.

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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.

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Young Bernstein

• ?As with many gifted American children, Bernstein
  had to prevail over his hard-working fathers
  concern that music did not offer him a secure,
  stable future , but Leonard continued to pursue
  his dream no matter what anyone else thought.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Bernstein's biggest Influence was..

• George
• Gershwin
• An American composer born in Brooklyn, New York.
• September 26, 1898 - July 11, 1937.

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Bernsteins Death

• ?Died October 14th, 1990
• ?Location of death New York City
• ?Cause of death Heart Failure
• ?Remains Buried, Green Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn,
  NY

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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.

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In the Making

• ?This is Bernstein rehearsing at the piano with
  female members of the West Side Story cast.

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Broadway

• ?West side storys 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.

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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."

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Awards

• ?1961 Academy Award Winner(Best Picture)
• ?1957 Tony Award Nominee (Best Musical)

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For More Information

• ?www.westsidestory.com
• ??www.leonardbernstein.com
• ?www.georgegershwin.com
• ?www.filmsite.org