Leonard Bernstein: American Original (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Barbara Haws (Author)
Key Phrases: music director, Leonard Bernstein, New York, American Original (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School—The current student generation has never witnessed Leonard Bernstein's creative genius and masterful interpretations firsthand, but this tribute could stir many to seek out CDs, DVDs, and the Internet to hear and watch a master in action. As the title indicates, this is not a comprehensive biography; it focuses on Bernstein's Philharmonic years, his most productive. An introduction by Haws and a foreword by Burton Bernstein are followed by a succession of chapters, each written by a different author. These essayists, ranging from a music critic to an American historian, both reveal and explore a plethora of topics, including life in New York City during these years, Bernstein's music, his use of the relatively new medium of television to entertain and instruct, and his social activism. "A Brother's Recollection" follows, and it is this fusion of the professional and personal that makes this work stand out among other Bernstein biographies. It is also a visual treasure trove, chock-full of black-and-white photographs testifying to Bernstein's intensity, his devotion to his work, his joie de vivre, and his belief that the universality of music could make the world a better place. Those already familiar with Bernstein may discover an unknown aspect of his career or personality in this work. Others will be introduced to an innovative change agent, an indefatigable music advocate, and a true American Master, all personified in this "modern Renaissance man."—Dori DeSpain, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Had it with biographies that dish and dis their subjects? Then this is definitely your book. Alright, it isn’t a full life story, neither a birth-to-death record nor a portrait of the “whole person.” It’s a set of articles on Bernstein’s achievements from 1943, when he last-minute-substitute-conducted the New York Philharmonic in a national broadcast, to 1976, the nation’s bicentenary and New York’s darkest hour when the Ford administration declined to rescue it from bankruptcy. Each piece is by an author who knows well whereof he writes and openly admires, even adores, Bernstein. Broadcaster-conductor Bill McLaughlin discusses Bernstein as conductor, with the maestro’s performance scores and DVDs before him. Music historian Carol J. Oja incisively surveys Bernstein’s Broadway shows. Composer John Adams tells what Bernstein has meant to him, from his boyhood hearing of Bernstein’s famous, nationally televised young people’s concerts to learning from Bernstein what it was to be an American composer. Others treat Bernstein as humanitarian and social activist, as music educator, as touring cultural diplomat, and as director of a great orchestra. Music lovers may award best-of-show to James Keller’s piece on Bernstein as interpreter and champion of Mahler. Interspersed with this wealth of well-considered commentary are the smart and affectionate recollections of Burton Bernstein, concluding with his eulogy for “my brother, Lenny.” All this, and scads of pictures, too! A flat-out wonderful book. --Ray Olson

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Harper; 1 edition (August 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061537861
• ISBN-13: 978-0061537868
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #89,625 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #1 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Classical > Composers > Bernstein, Leonard
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  #2 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Classical > Conductors & Musicians

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ideal coffee table book for music lovers, November 21, 2008

By	Sean Hickey "Revueltas" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This incredibly handsome piece, in celebration of the Leonard Bernstein 90th year, concentrates on the conductor/composer's incredible relationship with the New York Philharmonic. Frankly, the price is a real bargain and well worth it for the photos alone, many of which are extremely rare. The forwards from Barbara Haws and Burton Bernstein are incredibly moving and informative and answer the question, "why do we need another book on Bernstein?" He was perhaps the great musician of 20th century America and this book offers us several new looks at the great man.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Those Who Can't Get Enough of Bernstein...., August 19, 2008

By	Oscar Levant "Bruce Tennant" (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Although this book was originally scheduled for publication on 8-22, I received mine today, 8-19, a testament to Amazon.com's speedy delivery service. It's difficult to categorize this volume, falling somewhere between a coffee table picture book and a personal photo album. Bernstein's brother apparently came up with the idea, this in his brother's 90th year. There are articles and remembrances from mostly his years with the NYP, written by Alan Rich, Paul Boyer and others with Burton Bernstein commenting on each. There is a good amount of new black and white photos strewn among the 207 pages with lots of newspaper reproductions, sidebars and fancy graphics that I found a bit distracting and, again, make me want to put it on a coffee table rather than store more formally on a book shelf. But for those of us who cannot get enough of Bernstein and continue to re-read Humphrey Burton's masterful biography, this is a nice adjunct. It makes us miss him all over again.