bernstein set work intro

7/28/2019 Bernstein Set Work Intro

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BY LEONARD BERNSTEIN


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Leonard Bernstein

Born in Massachusetts in 1918

Played Piano from a young age

Studied Music at Harvard, then Piano, Composition and Conductingat the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia

Became friends with Aaron Copland

Conducted the New York Philharmonic Orchestra His first concertwas broadcast nationally and made him instantly famous

Conducted many important concerts world wide, and worked closelywith many well known composers of the 20th century IncludingIves, Shostakovich, Nielsen & Sibelius.

Was a highly accomplished performer and would often conduct from

the piano! Lectured extensively on Classical Music

Composed a mix of Classical and Musical Theatre works


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West Side Story

First performed on Broadway in 1957

Released as a film in 1961

Set in the 195:s in run down West Side New York

Based on Romeo and Juliet The Capulets andMontaguesbecome the Jets and the Sharks

Both street gangs, The Jetsare white Americansand the Sharksare Puerto Rican

Tony, from the Jets, falls in love with Maria who isBernardo, leader of the Sharks, sister


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The Music

Music by Bernstein

Very influenced by contemporary styles, particularlyBebop Jazz and Blues

Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Also wrote the lyrics for

Sweeney Todd Scored for a huge range of instruments but only

around 30 players Still a big ensemble for Broadway

Players had to double up 5 Reed players cover3 piccolos, 3 flutes, oboe, English horn, E-flat clarinet,

4 B-flat clarinets, 3 bass clarinets, bassoon, andsaxophones (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass)

There are recurring themes throughout the musical,particularly the use of the Tritone


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The Tritone..?

A Perfect 5th (C to G or D to A) is a very powerfulinterval in music

Associated with Fanfares Lord Farqua,Superman

The Tritone, or the Diminished (Narrow) 5th is asemitone smaller (C to Gb or D to Ab)

It can also be written enharmonically as anAugmented (Wide) 4th (C to F# or D to G#)

This is a very angular, dissonant interval

Since the Middle Ages it has been considered theDevils Interval, or La diabolus in musica


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Influence of Jazz

Bernstein uses Jazz features throughout West SideStory:

Jazz Harmony Altered or Extended Chords

Syncopation Deliberately setting important

notes/words on weak beatsBlue Notes Melodic notes from the Blues Scale

Tritones As if you need to ask!

Short Riffs Short, repeated, memorable ideas

Cross Rhythms - 2s against 3s etc.

These are used for dramatic effect and to supportthe meaning of the text.


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Syncopation

One rhythmic feature Bernstein uses is Push notes.These are simply notes that anticipate, or come inbefore, the beat.

What is the musical effect of the push notes on

could in bar 4 and who in bar 8? They create a sense of urgency by happening before they

should

In bars 52 to 59 Bernstein combines straight (on the

beat) accents with syncopated (off the beat) rhythms.How does this support the lyrics?

It creates a mix of certainty and uncertainty. Tony knowssomething will happen, but not what it will be or when


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Tritones

In bar 44 there is a Tritone on the wordsSomethings coming. What does this tell usabout what is coming?

Whatevers coming may not be good or what Tony

expects

This is repeated in bar 153 on the wordsMaybe tonight. What does that tell us is

going to happen? It maybe tonight, but it may not be the happy

something Tony is hoping for


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Blue Notes

The Blues scale is formed through the combination of Westernscales and African micro-tones and is a defining characteristicof African-American music.

It follows the pattern: Root, Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Diminished

5th, Perfect 5th and Minor 7th

In C this would give the notes C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, C

The last note of the pieces is a C natural, or a flattened 7th in Dmajor. It is very unusual for a piece to end on a non-harmonynote like this. What does this tell us, and how?

Tonys question is hopeful, but the fact his melody is unresolvedsuggests things are not going to turn out the way he wants them

to.


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Youtube

Somethings Coming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu7sRdRrm_whttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu7sRdRrm_whttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu7sRdRrm_whttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu7sRdRrm_w


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Key Learning Points

Syncopation =

Tonality =

Structure =

Tritone =

Tony's Voice =

Ostinato Patterns =


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Key Learning Points

Syncopation =

Where it's not on the beat

Tonality =

Starts in D, Modulates to C, then

Back to D.

Jazz harmony

Structure =

Intro, A, B, B1, A1 Outro

Tritone =

Intervals of Augmented 4th OR

Diminished 5th

Tony's Voice =

Is a High Male / Tenor

Ostinato Patterns =

Patterns that are repeated

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