Historical Dictionary of Leonard Bernstein

by Paul R. Laird, Hsun Lin

Overview

Leonard Bernstein is one of the most significant musicians in the history of the United States. He was the first conductor born in the United States and trained exclusively in his home country to develop an international profile. Most famous as music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1958 to 1969, Bernstein spent far longer as a guest conductor who developed substantive relationships with several major ensembles. He was a composer, conductor, and has made significant contributions as a composer of concert music and scores for musical theater. He was also an excellent pianist, well known for playing piano concertos while he directed the ensemble from the keyboard. Few 20th-century American composers have made such important contributions in each of the areas of symphonic music, ballets, and musical theater.

Historical Dictionary of Leonard Bernstein contains a chronology, an introduction, an appendix, an extensive bibliography, and more than 700 cross-referenced entries on Bernstein’s life and works. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Leonard Bernstein.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538113448
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/31/2019
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts
Pages:	364
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Paul R. Laird is professor of musicology at the University of Kansas. His research interests include Leonard Bernstein, the Broadway musical, the Spanish villancico, and early string instruments.

Hsun Lin is an independent scholar who resides in Monterey, California. Her research interests include Leonard Bernstein, the Broadway musical, string repertoire, and the performance practice of early music.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Foreword

Preface

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Chronology

Introduction

THE DICTIONARY

Appendix: The Compositions of Leonard Bernstein

Bibliography

About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

This volume is part of the “Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts” series, which has now grown to more than 80 volumes. It is the 11th volume devoted to music and the only one so far on a single individual. Bernstein (1918–90) was undoubtedly one of the most versatile and gifted musicians of the 20th century. Well known as a conductor, composer, pianist, educator, and author, he was prominent in both the classical and popular music scenes, not to mention the social scene in mid-century America. From the late 1930s onward, he met and associated with other composers, stage designers and directors, lyricists, producers, dancers, choreographers, educators, politicians, and many other important people both inside and outside the arts. The present volume abounds with cross-references, so it is relatively easy to find, for example, people, places, concert halls, events, titles of works, and subjects connected to Bernstein. The reader may also find here a more well-balanced view of the life and works of this larger-than-life figure than many other resources offer. A lengthy chronology, biographical introduction, works list, and bibliography are provided.

Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.

Choice Reviews

This volume is part of the “Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts” series, which has now grown to more than 80 volumes. It is the 11th volume devoted to music and the only one so far on a single individual. Bernstein (1918–90) was undoubtedly one of the most versatile and gifted musicians of the 20th century. Well known as a conductor, composer, pianist, educator, and author, he was prominent in both the classical and popular music scenes, not to mention the social scene in mid-century America. From the late 1930s onward, he met and associated with other composers, stage designers and directors, lyricists, producers, dancers, choreographers, educators, politicians, and many other important people both inside and outside the arts. The present volume abounds with cross-references, so it is relatively easy to find, for example, people, places, concert halls, events, titles of works, and subjects connected to Bernstein. The reader may also find here a more well-balanced view of the life and works of this larger-than-life figure than many other resources offer. A lengthy chronology, biographical introduction, works list, and bibliography are provided. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.

Choice

This volume is part of the “Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts” series, which has now grown to more than 80 volumes. It is the 11th volume devoted to music and the only one so far on a single individual. Bernstein (1918–90) was undoubtedly one of the most versatile and gifted musicians of the 20th century. Well known as a conductor, composer, pianist, educator, and author, he was prominent in both the classical and popular music scenes, not to mention the social scene in mid-century America. From the late 1930s onward, he met and associated with other composers, stage designers and directors, lyricists, producers, dancers, choreographers, educators, politicians, and many other important people both inside and outside the arts. The present volume abounds with cross-references, so it is relatively easy to find, for example, people, places, concert halls, events, titles of works, and subjects connected to Bernstein. The reader may also find here a more well-balanced view of the life and works of this larger-than-life figure than many other resources offer. A lengthy chronology, biographical introduction, works list, and bibliography are provided.

Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.

CHOICE