Short bio Leonard Bernstein
Birthday:
1918 in Lawrence, MA
Died:
1990 in New York, NY
Active:
1940s - 1990s
Genre:
Classical,Stage & Screen,Vocal,Avant-Garde,Latin,Pop/Rock
Period:
20th Century, Contemporary, Modern
Full biography Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor, and musical educator who was born in 1918 and passed away in 1990. He was known for his work in various genres of music, including symphonic and orchestral music , ballet, film and theatre music , choral works, opera, and chamber music. Bernstein was also a prolific writer and commentator on music, and often appeared on television shows to explain classical music to young listeners.
Some of Bernstein's most famous works include the musicals "West Side Story" and "On the Town," as well as the opera "Candide." He was also an accomplished conductor and served as the music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1958 to 1969.
In addition to his work as a composer and conductor , Bernstein was also recognized for his humanitarian efforts and advocacy for peace and justice. He was involved in various social and political causes throughout his life, and often used his music as a way to address these issues.
Overall, Leonard Bernstein left a lasting impact on the world of music and beyond. His contributions to various genres of music, as well as his dedication to social justice, continue to be celebrated and revered today.
Compositions featuring Leonard Bernstein
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Quiet Place, suite from the opera (arr. by Sid Ramin and M. T. Thomas with M. Barrett) | 22:13 min | Orchestral | 1991 |
| 2 | Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Concert version) | 14:47 min | Opera | 1989 |
| 3 | Dance Suite, for brass quintet & optional percussion | 5:04 min | Chamber Music | 1989 |
| 4 | Vayomer Elohim (Let There Be Light), for voice & piano | 1:18 min | Vocal Music | 1989 |
| 5 | Anniversaries (13), for piano | 21:36 min | Keyboard | 1988 |
| 6 | Arias & Barcarolles (7 of 9 songs in this set are by Bernstein), for mezzo-soprano, baritone, strings & percussion (or piano duet) | 30:49 min | Vocal Music | 1988 |
| 7 | Missa Brevis, for alto, chorus & percussion (or 7 violins & percussion) | 11:19 min | Choral | 1988 |
| 8 | Variations on an Octatonic Theme, for orchestra | 6:10 min | Orchestral | 1988 |
| 9 | A Quiet Place ("Ruh und Frieden"), opera in 3 acts (German version of Revised version) | Opera | 1987 | |
| 10 | Concerto for Orchestra, for orchestra ("Jubilee Games") | 29:57 min | Concerto | 1986 |
| 11 | One-Minute for Charlie, for piano (unpublished) | 1:08 min | Keyboard | 1985 |
| 12 | A Quiet Place, opera in 3 acts (Revised version) | 137:37 min | Opera | 1984 |
| 13 | Meditations Before a Wedding, for piano (unpublished) | 3:13 min | Keyboard | 1984 |
| 14 | A Quiet Place, opera in 4 acts (Original version; withdrawn) | Opera | 1983 | |
| 15 | Halil, nocturne for flute solo, piccolo, alto flute, percussion & harp; also for flute, piano & percussion | 15:21 min | Orchestral | 1981 |
| 16 | Olympic Hymn, for chorus & orchestra (withdrawn) | 5:15 min | Choral | 1981 |
| 17 | Touches (Chorale, 8 Variations & Coda), competition test piece for piano | 8:51 min | Keyboard | 1981 |
| 18 | A Musical Toast, for orchestra | 2:21 min | Orchestral | 1980 |
| 19 | Divertimento, for orchestra | 14:57 min | Orchestral | 1980 |
| 20 | My New Friends, song for voice & piano (from "The Madwoman of Central Park West") | 2:36 min | Vocal Music | 1979 |
| 21 | Piccola Serenata, vocalise for voice & piano | 1:21 min | Vocal Music | 1979 |
| 22 | The Madwoman of Central Park West, musical (collaboration; 2 numbers by Bernstein) | Show/Musical | 1979 | |
| 23 | CBS Music, television score | 7:19 min | Film Score | 1978 |
| 24 | Candide, suite from the operetta in 2 parts for voices, chorus & orchestra | 14:08 min | Choral | 1977 |
| 25 | Meditations (3) from "Mass", for cello & orchestra; also for cello & piano | 16:17 min | Orchestral | 1977 |
| 26 | Slava! A Political Overture, for orchestra | 3:48 min | Orchestral | 1977 |
| 27 | Songfest, song cycle for 6 singers & orchestra or piano | 41:43 min | Vocal Music | 1977 |
| 28 | Valse Lente, for piano ("Für Ger(e)da") (unpublished) | 0:49 min | Keyboard | 1977 |
| 29 | 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, musical (withdrawn) | 16:40 min | Show/Musical | 1976 |
| 30 | Take Care of This House, for voice & orchestra or piano (from "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue") | 3:01 min | Vocal Music | 1976 |
| 31 | Dybbuk, ballet | 47:18 min | Ballet | 1974 |
| 32 | Dybbuk, suite from the ballet for orchestra No. 2 | 17:03 min | Orchestral | 1974 |
| 33 | Dybbuk, Suite No.1, for tenor, bass & orchestra | 30:34 min | Vocal Music | 1974 |
| 34 | A Simple Song, for voice & piano (from "Mass") | 4:24 min | Vocal Music | 1971 |
| 35 | Mass, theatre piece for singers, players & dancers | 98:57 min | Show/Musical | 1971 |
| 36 | Meditations (2) from "Mass", for orchestra | Orchestral | 1971 | |
| 37 | Canon for Aaron, for violin & piano | 2:35 min | Chamber Music | 1970 |
| 38 | Warm-up, a round for chorus, bell & scat sounds (used in "Mass") | 1:15 min | Choral | 1970 |
| 39 | Shivaree, for double brass ensemble & percussion (used in "Mass") | 1:14 min | Orchestral | 1969 |
| 40 | So Pretty, song for voice & piano | 2:25 min | Vocal Music | 1968 |
| 41 | Valse Lente after GAEA, for piano (unpublished) | 1:55 min | Keyboard | 1967 |
| 42 | Leonard Bernstein Discusses Charles Ives (Lecture) | 13:10 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1966 |
| 43 | Mixolydian Mixup, for piano (unpublished) | 1:00 min | Keyboard | 1966 |
| 44 | Chichester Psalms, for boy soloist, chorus & orchestra | 17:05 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 45 | Presto Barbaro, for brass & percussion with optional piano (from "On the Waterfront" suite) | 4:13 min | Orchestral | 1965 |
| 46 | Spring Will Come Again, song for voice & piano (originally written for "The Skin of Our Teeth") | 3:39 min | Vocal Music | 1964 |
| 47 | Symphony No. 3 ("Kaddish"), for soprano, speakers, choruses & orchestra | 40:47 min | Symphony | 1963 |
| 48 | Pre-performance remarks: "Don't be frightened. Mr. Gould is here..." | 4:12 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1962 |
| 49 | Fanfare for the 25th Anniversary of the High School of Music & Art, N. Y. C., for brass ensemble | 0:22 min | Chamber Music | 1961 |
| 50 | Fanfare for the inauguration of J. F. Kennedy, for brass ensemble | 0:38 min | Chamber Music | 1961 |
| 51 | Bridal Suite, for 2 pianos (includes "Three Wedding Dances") | 10:47 min | Keyboard | 1960 |
| 52 | Symphonic Dances (9) from "West Side Story", for orchestra (orchestrated with Ramin & Kostal) | 22:17 min | Orchestral | 1960 |
| 53 | The Firstborn, incidental music for voice & chorus (withdrawn) | Orchestral | 1958 | |
| 54 | I Feel Pretty, song (from "West Side Story") | 2:54 min | Show/Musical | 1957 |
| 55 | Maria, song (from "West Side Story") | 3:03 min | Vocal Music | 1957 |
| 56 | Somewhere, song (from "West Side Story") | 3:37 min | Vocal Music | 1957 |
| 57 | Tonight, song (from "West Side Story") | 3:44 min | Vocal Music | 1957 |
| 58 | Best of All Posible Worlds, for voice & orchestra or piano (from "Candide") | 2:39 min | Show/Musical | 1956 |
| 59 | Candide, overture to the operetta | 4:24 min | Orchestral | 1956 |
| 60 | Glitter and Be Gay, for soprano & orchestra (from "Candide") | 5:50 min | Vocal Music | 1956 |
| 61 | Like Everybody Else (originally written for "West Side Story"), song for voice & piano | Vocal Music | 1956 | |
| 62 | Make Our Garden Grow, song for voice & orchestra or piano (from "Candide") | 4:30 min | Vocal Music | 1956 |
| 63 | Candide, operetta in 2 acts (original version, withdrawn) | 52:00 min | Opera | 1955 |
| 64 | On the Waterfront, symphonic suite | 19:47 min | Orchestral | 1955 |
| 65 | Sabras (4), for piano | 5:33 min | Keyboard | 1955 |
| 66 | The Lark, incidental music for countertenor, chorus & percussion | 13:52 min | Orchestral | 1955 |
| 67 | West Side Story, musical | 60:58 min | Show/Musical | 1955 |
| 68 | Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion & strings; also for violin & piano | 30:44 min | Orchestral | 1954 |
| 69 | It's Love, song (from "Wonderful Town") | 4:24 min | Vocal Music | 1953 |
| 70 | Wonderful Town, musical in 2 acts | 60:08 min | Show/Musical | 1953 |
| 71 | The Story of My Life, song for voice & piano (originally written for "Wonderful Town") | 2:34 min | Vocal Music | 1952 |
| 72 | Silhouette (Galilee), song for voice & piano | 2:03 min | Vocal Music | 1951 |
| 73 | Trouble in Tahiti, opera in 1 act | 43:52 min | Opera | 1951 |
| 74 | Dream With Me, song for voice & piano with obbligato cello (cut from the incidental music for "Peter Pan") | 3:38 min | Vocal Music | 1950 |
| 75 | Elegy for Mippy II, for trombone (from "Brass Music") | 1:59 min | Chamber Music | 1950 |
| 76 | Peter Pan, incidental music | 58:15 min | Orchestral | 1950 |
| 77 | Yigdal, Hebrew liturgical melody for chorus & piano | 1:28 min | Choral | 1950 |
| 78 | Anniversaries (5), for piano | 6:46 min | Keyboard | 1949 |
| 79 | Love Songs (2), for voice & piano | 4:07 min | Vocal Music | 1949 |
| 80 | Prelude, Fugue & Riffs, for clarinet & jazz ensemble | 8:25 min | Concerto | 1949 |
| 81 | Symphony No. 2 ("The Age of Anxiety"), for piano & orchestra or 2 pianos | 34:18 min | Symphony | 1949 |
| 82 | Anniversaries (4), for piano | 6:10 min | Keyboard | 1948 |
| 83 | Brass Music, pieces (5) for piano, trumpet, horn, trombone & tuba | Chamber Music | 1948 | |
| 84 | Elegy for Mippy I, for horn & piano (from "Brass Music") | 2:28 min | Chamber Music | 1948 |
| 85 | Fanfare for Bima, for brass quintet (from "Brass Music") | 1:02 min | Chamber Music | 1948 |
| 86 | Waltz for Mippy III, for tuba & piano (from "Brass Music") | 1:49 min | Chamber Music | 1948 |
| 87 | La Bonne Cuisine: 4 recipes, for voice & piano | 4:29 min | Vocal Music | 1947 |
| 88 | Rinah, Hebrew folksong arranged for chorus & orchestra | 1:46 min | Choral | 1947 |
| 89 | Rondo for Lifey, for trumpet & piano (from "Brass Music") | 1:40 min | Chamber Music | 1947 |
| 90 | Simchu Na, for chorus & piano | 2:40 min | Choral | 1947 |
| 91 | Dance Variations (3) from Fancy Free, for orchestra | 6:26 min | Orchestral | 1946 |
| 92 | Facsimile, ballet | 15:25 min | Ballet | 1946 |
| 93 | Facsimile, Choreographic Essay, for orchestra (from the ballet) | 18:59 min | Orchestral | 1946 |
| 94 | Afterthought (study for ballet "Facsimile"), for voice & piano (withdrawn) | 3:20 min | Vocal Music | 1945 |
| 95 | Dance Episodes (3) from "On the Town", for orchestra | 9:57 min | Orchestral | 1945 |
| 96 | Hashkiveinu, for tenor, chorus & organ | 5:15 min | Choral | 1945 |
| 97 | Lonely Me, song for voice & piano (originally written for "On the Town") | 4:26 min | Vocal Music | 1945 |
| 98 | Say When, song for voice & piano (originally written for "On the Town") | 3:30 min | Vocal Music | 1945 |
| 99 | Fancy Free, ballet | 25:45 min | Ballet | 1944 |
| 100 | Lonely Town, song (from "On the Town") | 3:24 min | Vocal Music | 1944 |
| 101 | New York, New York, song for voice & piano (from "On the Town") | 3:14 min | Vocal Music | 1944 |
| 102 | On the Town, musical | 62:59 min | Show/Musical | 1944 |
| 103 | Some Other Time, song (from "On the Town") | 3:52 min | Vocal Music | 1944 |
| 104 | Anniversaries (7), for piano | 11:11 min | Keyboard | 1943 |
| 105 | I Hate Music, cycle of "5 kid songs" for soprano & piano | 4:45 min | Vocal Music | 1943 |
| 106 | Symphony No. 1 ("Jeremiah"), for mezzo-soprano & orchestra | 24:04 min | Symphony | 1942 |
| 107 | Sonata for clarinet & piano | 10:56 min | Chamber Music | 1941 |
| 108 | Sonata for violin & piano | 15:16 min | Chamber Music | 1940 |
| 109 | Music for the Dance I, for piano | 2:22 min | Keyboard | 1938 |
| 110 | Music for the Dance II, for piano | 4:10 min | Keyboard | 1938 |
| 111 | Piano Sonata | 15:13 min | Keyboard | 1938 |
| 112 | Music for Two Pianos | 6:27 min | Keyboard | 1937 |
| 113 | Non Troppo Presto, for piano | 1:44 min | Keyboard | 1937 |
| 114 | Piano Trio | 15:55 min | Chamber Music | 1937 |
| 115 | Music for String Quartet | 10:57 min | Chamber Music | 1936 |
| 116 | Psalm 148, for voice & piano | 4:35 min | Vocal Music | 1935 |
| 117 | Transcription: Copland: "El Salón Mexico", for 1 or 2 pianos | 9:55 min | Keyboard | 1933 |
| 118 | 35, for piano (unpublished) | 1:26 min | Keyboard | - |
| 119 | A White House Cantata, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (concert version of "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue") | 80:00 min | Choral | - |
| 120 | Ain't Got No Tears Left, song for voice & piano (from "On the Town") | 4:47 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 121 | America Medley, for orchestra | 7:07 min | Orchestral | - |
| 122 | America, song (from "West Side Story") | 3:50 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 123 | Berlioz Takes a Trip, narration by Bernstein with orchestral accompaniment | 15:41 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 124 | By Bernstein, musical cabaret (withdrawn) | 3:33 min | Show/Musical | - |
| 125 | Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Chelsea version) | 105:09 min | Show/Musical | - |
| 126 | Candide, operetta in 2 acts (New York City Opera House version) | 91:31 min | Opera | - |
| 127 | Candide, operetta in 2 acts (Scottish opera or final revised version) | 96:00 min | Opera | - |
| 128 | For Nicky Slonimsky, for piano (unpublished) | 1:00 min | Keyboard | - |
| 129 | How a Great Symphony Was Written (Lecture) | 14:22 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 130 | I Can Cook Too, song (from "On the Town") | 2:20 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 131 | In Our Time, song for voice & piano | 3:02 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 132 | Invocation and Trance, for voice & orchestra (or 2 pianos) (from "Dybbuk") | 3:57 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 133 | Leonard Bernstein discusses material & structure in Bach's St. Matthew Passion (Lecture) | 16:16 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 134 | Lucky to Be Me, for voice & piano (from "On the Town") | 3:59 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 135 | Ohio, song (from "Wonderful Town") | 3:23 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 136 | On the Town, film score | Film Score | - | |
| 137 | On the Waterfront, film score | Film Score | - | |
| 138 | One Hand, One Heart, song (from "West Side Story") | 3:54 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 139 | Something's coming, song (from "West Side Story") | 2:49 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 140 | To What You Said, for voice & piano | 5:35 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 141 | West Side Story, film score | 78:18 min | Film Score | - |
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