Something's coming - Bernstein Music in the 20th Century

Something's coming - Bernstein Music in the 20th Century

1. Background information

   • Musicals
     • Early musicals developed in 1920s
     • Usually in a popular style
   • Leonard Bernstein
     • Skilled pianist, conductor and broadcaster
     • Influenced by jazz
   • West side story
     • Composed in1957
     • Based on Romeo and Juliet
     • Set in New York

2. Instrumentation

   • Solo tenor
   • Accompanied by band
     • Strings
       • Use of harmonics
         • Very high notes
       • Play tremolo
         • Very quick notes
     • Doesn't overpower singing by using
       • Quiet dynamics
       • Soft timbres
       • Homophonic texture
     • Woodwind
     • Brass
     • Percussion

3. Melody + Structure

   • Almost entirely sylabic
   • Based on alternation of 3 main themes
     • 1. The quiet, syncopated opening theme
       • 2. The loud, strident theme in 2/4
         • 3. The lyrical, slow-moving theme
     • Words + meter are changed

4. Rhythm, Meter + Tempo

   • Alternates between 3/4 and 2/4
   • Feeling of excitement and anticipation made by...
     • Changes of meter
     • Fast tempo
     • Frequent syncopation