BERNSTEIN, LEONARD. (1918-1990). American composer, conductor, teacher, and pianist. AMusQS on a photograph. (“Leonard Bernstein”). 1p. 8vo. (5” x 7”). N.p., 1978. To Rainer (B...?). A black-and-white bust photograph of Bernstein in profile wearing a conductor’s tuxedo. At the top of the image, Bernstein has written out the haunting, first three notes of the memorable West Side Story song “Maria” and has added his name in the lower right corner with the date.

Enormously talented, Bernstein is remembered for his compositions, his leadership of the New York Philharmonic, and his interest in education. After studying under conductors Fritz Reiner and Serge Koussevitzky, Bernstein held posts with several prominent American and foreign orchestras including the New York Philharmonic where he introduced his popular “Young People’s Concerts” series. Bernstein was a prolific composer who worked in the disparate disciplines of classical, liturgical, jazz, and contemporary music. His works include West Side Story, the oratorio Kaddish and music for the film On the Waterfront.

The genesis of West Side Story dates to 1947 when Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents and Bernstein began work on a modern musical based on Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Originally called East Side Story and focused on the ethnic conflict between Jewish and Irish Catholic immigrants, the subject matter was changed to tell the story of rival street gangs on Manhattan’s West Side, a timelier subject in the late 1950s. With Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, it became a pioneering work of musical theater, with a gritty realism, Latin rhythms, faux street slang, and extended dance numbers. An immediate success upon its 1957 premiere, it has remained an enduring classic, enjoying film productions in 1961 and 2021. Interestingly, our quote is written out in E-flat major as originally composed; the song’s key was lowered in both films.

In excellent condition.