Leonard Bernstein was the quintessential American musician. Through his careers as conductor, pianist, teacher and television personality he became known across the US and the world, his flamboyance and theatricality making him a favourite with audiences, if not with critics. However, he is perhaps best remembered as a composer, particularly of the musical West Side Story, and for songs such as America, Tonight and Somewhere. Dr Helen Smith takes an indepth look at all eight of Bernsteins musical theatre works, from the early On the Town written by the 26yearold composer at the start of his career, to his second and last opera A Quiet Place in 1983 in between these two pieces he composed music for Trouble in Tahiti, Wonderful Town, Candide, West Side Story, Mass and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These works are analysed and considered against a background of musical and social context, as well as looking at Bernsteins other orchestral, choral and chamber works. One important aspect examined is Bernsteins use of motifs in his theatre compositions, which takes them out of the realms of Broadway and into the sphere of symphonic writing. Smith provides an indispensable overview of the musical theatre works of an eclectic composer, and shows what it is that constitutes the Bernstein sound.

Binding: Paperback;320 pages; Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd (Sales); Classification: AVGC6; Weight: 600 g; Dimensions: 158 x 233 x 22

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