Leonard Bernstein (Modern Era)
What is the key of "America"?
"America" is in ambiguous tonality until the chorus in C Major.
Which character from "West Side Story" sings the song "Maria"?
"Maria" is sung by the character of Tony (tenor). He is a member of the Jets, who has just met and fallen in love with Maria, a Puerto Rican girl. Her brother is Bernardo, leader of the Sharks. Like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, their love story is destined to end in tragedy.
What story is depicted in Bernstein's "West Side Story"?
"West Side Story" is a 20th-century retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The tragic tale of "star-crossed lovers" is set in 1950's New York City. Instead of two noble Italian families, there are two rival street gangs: the Jets, which are the American gang, and the Sharks, which are the Puerto Rican gang. The ill-fated romance is between Maria (Juliet is her Shakespearean counterpart), a Puerto Rican girl, and Tony (Romeo is his Shakespearean counterpart), an American boy in the Jets. At the time, West Side Story's violent, tragic conclusion was unprecedented in the Broadway world, which favored cheerful, whimsical musicals.
Which character(s) from "West Side Story" sings the song "America"?
- Bernard (leader of the Sharks) - Anita (Bernard's girlfriend) - Rosalia (a friend of Anita's) - Other Puerto Rican girls and Shark members
What is the plot summary of "America"?
- Bernardo expresses his homesickness for his native Puerto Rico; Anita defiantly declares her love for her newfound home, Manhattan - The clever lyrics extol both the virtues and false promises of "The American Dream"
What is jazz?
- a musical style that developed in the early 20th-century United States - combines elements of African, popular, and European music - based on improvisation
What is a musical?
- a unique genre developed in the United States - a play with spoken dialogue but featuring musical numbers: songs, dances, choruses - staging (sets, costumes, lighting) is often spectacular
"America" - Musical Introduction
- ambiguous tonality - modal inflections in melodic lines - claves (wood blocks) and guiro (ribbed gourd) establish Latin ambience with cross-rhythms and rhythmic ostinato - Spanish guitar and celesta provide undulating lines in parallel thirds in rising and falling triplets
"America" - Anita's Response
- conveys Anita's loathing of Puerto Rico and her love of Manhattan
"America" - Chorus
- key of C Major, with sudden (jazzy) modulations - chorus consists of short syncopated phrases, repeating the word "America" - chorus and verse alternate a 6/8 and 3/4 pattern, establishing the hemiola effect central to this song (a hemiola is a temporary shift of the metric accents; for example, notes grouped in threes are momentarily grouped in two or vice versa) - snappy syncopations provide rhythmic energy - Latin flavor achieved through use of guitar, claves, and maracas; additional percussion instruments (pitched and non-pitched) add texture; trumpets and drums give intensity to the overall sound
"America" - Voice Introduction
- sung by Bernardo in a lyrical, declamatory style - a sense of yearning and nostalgia is conveyed through long phrases and free rhythm - word painting on "breezes" is achieved through an arched motif based on the whole-tone scale; glissandi on string harmonics also contribute to the effect
What happens in "Maria"?
- the melody opens with a chant-like intonation, suggesting Tony's worshipful adoration of Maria - repeated D-sharps supported by modal harmony and free rhythm - the verse continues, beginning with a tritone interval: "Ma-ri-a": E-flat (D-sharp) - A-natural - B-flat; this angular motif runs throughout most of the score and conveys strife, yearning, and star-crossed love - the melody traces a broad arc before returning to the opening theme - the chant-like melody returns at the close of the song and serves as a postlude - orchestration features lush strings doubling the voice part throughout; timpani used to heighten musical climaxes
When was "West Side Story" composed?
1957
What is the key of "Maria"?
B Major - E-flat Major
What does Bernstein's music reflect?
Bernstein's music reflects the energy and optimism of post-World War II America. Additionally, although his work was influenced by classical forms and idioms, it also integrated American, Hispanic, and Jewish elements and absorbed popular, jazz, and musical theater elements.
When and where was Bernstein born?
He was born on Aug 25, 1918, in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
What is the structure of "America"?
It is written in verse-chorus structure, preceded by an introduction. (The verse-chorus structure is a common song structure in popular music: verses develop the character/storyline, while the "chorus" acts as a tuneful refrain
What did Bernstein possess that made him a very famous figure in American music circles?
Leonard Bernstein possessed a versatility and personal magnetism that made him a larger-than-life figure in American music circles. He was a multi-faceted musician who was a conductor, pianist, recording artist, composer, and educator. Bernstein understood the role that mass media could play in popularizing music. In the 1960s, he used the medium of television to captivate the imagination of young listeners through his very famous television series, "Young People's Concerts."
What is the plot summary of "West Side Story"?
The plot parallels the love affair and final tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The audience is initially introduced to the two rival gangs and observes the hostility between them. Later, Maria and Tony meet at a dance and fall in love. Tension builds between the two gangs, which leads to: 1. a fight in which Bernardo stabs and kills Riff 2. Tony then stabbing and killing Bernardo, Maria's brother 3. the final scene, in which Tony is stabbed by another member of the Sharks 4. Maria arriving on the scene to find Tony already dead
Where does the song "America" take place?
The setting is an alley behind Bernardo and Maria's house.
Where does the song "Maria" take place?
The setting is outside the gymnasium, where Tony has just met and fallen in love with Maria.
