America is yet another example of bernstein experimenting with rhythm. Considered one of the greatest musicals of all time, west side story makes its triumphant signature debut. There are many who contend it is this american composers greatest work, greater than his mass and. The score as a whole was nearly as daring for the film as it had been for the stage, wrote misha berson in her book somethings coming, something good. And, too, though its title breaks with shakespeare, theres bernsteins west side story. Schirmer and chappell, 1965 physical description score 48 p. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are widely regarded as. West side story is the soundtrack to the 1961 film west side story. This delightful and revelatory recording accomplishes something that composer leonard bernstein attempted and failed to achieve more than a decade earlier. But the prologue was actually filmed in two locations and edited together. Music from west side story by leonard bernstein 19181990.
It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. West side story selections for flexband hal leonard online. This is west side story prologue by brian cimmet on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. The sharks mostly recent puerto rican immigrants and the jets mostly second generation european immigrants circa 1960.
Naturally, when the time came to make the broadway musical into a film, he was the goto guy. Nigel simeone begins by exploring the long process of creating west. There are many who contend it is this american composers greatest work, greater than his mass and symphonies and other forays into the musical theater. The landmark musical west side story introduced a masterful musical score by leonard. West side story is one of the few broadway musicals that can make a genuine claim to transforming the genre. This groundbreaking collaboration among bernstein, jerome robbins conception and choreography, arthur laurents book, and. With a screenplay by ernest lehman, the film is an adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. With a screenplay by ernest lehman, the film is an adaptation of the 1957.
West side story vocal score with vocal melody, lyrics, piano reduction and introductory text. Clenched fists, stillness, sharp clicks and looks, changes of direction, with responsive arms. Leonard bernstein, available online, west side story. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by music by lyrics by arthur leonard stephen laurents bernstein sondheim choreography by jerome robbins rehearsal script as of october 21, 2008. It is notable that the album cover says, west side story based on a conception of jerome robbins, not based on a play by william shakespeare. The 2hybrid sacd set is sumptuously packaged in a 100page, hardbound full colour book. West side story original broadway cast recording original. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. The gem of broadway musicals, west side storys commentary on love and. West side story is a 1961 american musical romantic drama film directed by robert wise and jerome robbins.
Together, these two musical motives form the backbone of the score. Meter changes were not unheard of in musical theatre. The aerial view wanders through the buildings until we close in on the jets, a bunch of white gangbangers with names like ice, arab, baby john, and action. The sumptuous package features two premium audio hybrid sacds in a. This area is full of west side story has been a play that i have been wanting to read.
The opening prologue from the 10time academy award winning. This dynamic medley for young players is scored for flexible instrumentation and includes the. Michael tilson thomas and the san francisco symphony release leonard bernsteins west side story as youve never heard it before. Complete your leonard bernstein morrison eldred cooke dean nashville symphony orchestra.
Leaving aside claims about greatness, one must stand in awe of the sheer genius in this score. This dynamic medley for young players is scored for flexible instrumentation. West side story score to be played by philharmonic the. West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthwhile discussion of this. As for this album, it clocked up 53 weeks on top of the billboard stereo albums chart and 12 on the mono, making it the album with the most weeks at number 1 of the rock post 1955 era. Bernstein brought his background as a symphonic conductor and composer to every aspect of his work. Hilary scott this article is more than 6 years old. David newman conducts the boston symphony orchestra in sync with the movie version of west side story. Granted, old tin pan alley writers tended to stick to 44, 34, or 68 and to an aaba song form but composers like richard rodgers especially in his work with oscar hammerstein ii stated to. The library of congress is providing access to the leonard bernstein collection ca. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. Won 10 oscars, including one for bernsteinsondheim score and best picture. The appeal of this west side story will be broad, to collectors of classical, musical theatre and audiophile recordings.
The first movement, prophecy, shows an impressionable bernstein. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city. The tale, following the turf war between two rival gangs and starcrossed lovers. Bernsteins score for west side story blends jazz, latin rhythms, symphonic. West side story selections for flexband hal leonard. David geffen hall 10 lincoln center plaza new york, ny 100236970.
The dividing line between the east and west sides of manhattan is fifth avenue. Baltimore symphony orchestra, david zinman bernstein west. West side story for brass quintet arranged by jack gale. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The locations are on 110th street on the east side of manhattan between 1st and 2nd ave and 68th street on the west side of manhattan between west end avenue and amsterdam avenue. The landmark musical west side story introduced a masterful musical score by leonard bernstein. Nigel simeone begins by exploring the long process of creating west side story, including a discussion of bernsteins sketches, early drafts of the score and script, as well as cut songs. West side story prologue sharks opens with bernardo red shirt shark. West side story prologue official full number 50th anniversary. On the challenging side, this skillful adaptation includes excerpts from west side story prologue. Shop and buy music from west side story sheet music. In the late 1950s two rival gangs struggle for control of their west side new.
Trumpet, trombone, tuba, horn in f, brass quintet advanced intermediate digital download by leonard bernstein, empire brass. Prologue from west side story somewhere from west side story tonight from west side story instrumentation. Released in 1961, the soundtrack spent 54 weeks at no. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthw. Symphonic dances from west side story symphonic dances from west side story leonard bernsteinarr. Concert band sheet music book by leonard bernstein 19181990. No song from west side story has become as iconic as the one seen above. Modern day romeo and juliet, about a west side boy who falls in love with a puerto rican girl amidst a gang war. Todays doodle celebrates bernsteins life set to one of his most iconic worksthe score to west side story. West side story has its operatic moments, enough that bernstein in the 1980s did a recording with major operatic singers in the roles the problem was that those same singers were all significantly too old for the roles they were singing. He directed the stage version of west side story when it first released on stage in 1957 the story was his idea, too, handling the dancing and choreography while leonard bernstein and. Check out prologue by west side story ensemble 2009 on amazon music. Throughout the entire score the interval of the tritone is prominently displayed.
West side story prologue concertwind band musicals finder. West side story was the first musical propelled by dance, by choreography that moved the plot forward and conveyed emotions that the jets and sharks were incapable of. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves. Prologue by west side story ensemble 2009 on amazon. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. The conductor of this performance is michael tilson thomas. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Music by leonard bernstein lyrics by stephen sondheim book by arthur laurents based on a concept of jerome robbins. Winter garden theatre, new york 26 september, 1957 734 perfs her majestys theatre, london 12 december, 1958 1039 perfs story. Finally getting his chance nearly 50 years later, schermerhorn conducts the score with an authority and enthusiasm that reveals his intimate knowledge and personal conviction, even if at times his tempos drag as in i feel pretty and. West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthwhile discussion of this music is going to require some prior knowledge of musical forms, terminology, and traditions. Classical composerconductor leonard bernstein periodically had tried his hand at writing broadway musicals, starting with on the town 1944 and continuing with wonderful town.
In both the prologue and the jet song, the tritone does not resolve. Prologue this page lists all sheet music of west side story. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city i. Robbins acute observation and his mastery of ballet informed the style of each leap and gesture in west side story. Todays doodle celebrates bernsteins life set to one of his most iconic worksthe score to. West side story like youve never heard it the artery. This is a clip from the concert a celebration of leonard bernstein at carnegie hall in 2008. In particular, youll need at least a basic understanding of key areas, motives, and intervals.
The tenoscar haul west side story garnered, including best picture and best original score, was a record for any movie musical. Clenched fists, stillness, sharp clicks and looks, changes of direction, with. Kenneth schermerhorn was studying with bernstein during the creation of west side story and briefly was considered as a possible conductor for the premiere. W arm and riotous, with heartbreaking, unfinished cadences of promise and hesitant, exploratory rhythms bursting into sunred brass explosions, the west side story score is the apex of. Leonard bernstein and west side story folger shakespeare. He directed the stage version of west side story when it first released on stage in 1957 the story was his idea, too, handling the dancing and choreography while leonard bernstein and stephen sondheim created the music and lyrics. Won 10 oscars, including one for bernsteinsondheim score and best. Creating the new orchestration and score by garth edwin sutherland west side story is the most sophisticated orchestral score ever created for the broadway stage. Composers overview composer index performances anniversaries news new recordings new books photo gallery online scores publications overview new publi. From the first notes to the final breath, west side story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. Leonard bernstein the complete vocal score to one of the most beloved american musicals of.