Leonard Bernstein — composer, conductor, performer, educator

I mentioned that Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalm is being performed this weekend at San Diego Symphony. That just so happens to coincide with a new documentary about Lenny.

Leonard Bernstein: Larger than Life is being released on Friday, May 27. The DVD will feature a look at aspects of Bernstein’s musical life as composer, conductor, performer, and educator.

The influence that Bernstein continues to exert upon music is impossible to overestimate. His ability to communicate the essence of classical music, through the Harvard Lectures, the TV show Omnibus, and The New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts have yet to be surpassed.

I would recommend them to anyone who wants to get into music. Bernstein give us a thorough toolkit to understanding music. The Young People’s Concerts explore the nuts and bolts of music such as “what is a melody?” and also explores specific pieces of music such as Holst’s The Planets.

In the episode on The Planets Bernstein gives us insight that affects what we listen to in the music. He explains that The Planets isn’t about astronomy but is instead about astrology. I guess there’s a difference.

The Harvard Lectures go more in depth and are a perfect step up after the Young People’s Concerts. Lenny even explains what the circle of fifths is.

If we want to know and understand music, these resources are sitting there waiting to be watched.