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Leonard Bernstein

They Write the Songs Series 1
Episode 5 of 10

Barry Manilow turns his attention to the composer Leonard Bernstein, a classical musician whose popular compositions included West Side Story.

Barry Manilow turns his attention to the composer Leonard Bernstein, who was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on 25 August 1918.

Bernstein is particularly unusual - whereas Gershwin was a popular composer who aspired to write classical music - Bernstein was a classical musician who wrote popular music. Through musical successes such as On The Town, Candide and West Side Story he brought a complexity of arranging styles and musicianship that was unrivalled amongst Broadway composers.

Barry shows how Bernstein's ability to orchestrate his own melodies had such a great impact on musical theatre and defined Bernstein as a composer. As he deconstructs West Side Story's Officer Krupke, Barry illustrates Bernstein's expert use of dissonant chords and rhythm structures.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 13 Nov 2011 19:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Frank LoesserSeries 1

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Jule StyneSeries 1

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Music Played

  • Green, Adolph With John Reardon & Cris Alexander

    New York, New York

    • On The Town (Concert Version).
    • SONY CLASSICAL/COLUMBIA/LEGACY.

  • Blossom Dearie

    Some Other Time

    • Blossom Dearie Sings Comden And Green.
    • VERVE.

  • Rosalind Russell

    One Hundred Easy Ways

    • Wonderful Town.
    • SONY BROADWAY.

  • Richard Beymer

    Something's Coming

    • West Side Story.
    • CBS.

  • Johnny Mathis

    Maria

    • The Very Best Of.
    • SONY BMG.

  • Broadway Cast Of West Side Story

    America

    • West Side Story (Broadway Cast).
    • COLUMBIA.

  • Carol Lawrence

    I Feel Pretty

    • Marilyn Cooper;.
    • CARMEN GUITERREZ;.

  • Barbra Streisand

    Somewhere

    • The Broadway Album.
    • COLUMBIA.

  • Calin, Mickey & The Jets

    Gee Officer Krupke

    • West Side Story.
    • (BROADWAY CAST).

  • Original Broadway Cast - Candide Overture

  • Barbara Cook

    Glitter And Be Gay

    • Candide.
    • CBS.

  • Barbara Cook

    Make Our Garden Grow

    • Candide.
    • CBS.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 12 Apr 2011 22:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
  • Sun 13 Nov 2011 19:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2