With the Fourth of July right around the corner, this 3-CD set of American music is just the thing to put you in a patriotic mood. Of course, SONY could have easily titled this CD LEONARD BERNSTEIN’S GREAT HITS. All of this music has been available on various Bernstein CDs, but now it’s all in one handy package. AMAZON is selling this set for $14.99 which almost qualifies it for a BARGAIN OF THE WEEK. GRADE: A
PLAY LIST:
Disc: 1
1. Overture to Candide
2. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Prologue. Allegro moderato
3. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; “Somewhere”. Adagio
4. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Scherzo. Vivace leggiero
5. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Mambo. Presto Listen
6. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Cha-Cha (“Maria”). Andantino con grazia
7. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Meeting Scene. Meno mosso
8. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; “Cool” Fugue. Allegretto
9. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Rumble. Molto allegro
10. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Finale. Adagio 11. Prelude, Fugue and Riffs for Solo Clarinet and Jazz Ensemble; Prelude for the Brass
11. Prelude, Fugue and Riffs for Solo Clarinet and Jazz Ensemble; Fugue for the Saxes
12. Prelude, Fugue and Riffs for Solo Clarinet and Jazz Ensemble; Riffs for Everyone
13. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion (after Plato’s “Symposium”); I. Phaedrus. Pausanias (Lento – Allegro) (Instrumental)
14. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion (after Plato’s “Symposium”); II. Aristophanes (Allegretto) (Instrumental)
15. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion (after Plato’s “Symposium”); III. Eryximachus (Presto) (Instrumental)
16. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion (after Plato’s “Symposium”); IV. Agathon (Adagio) (Instrumental)
17. Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion (after Plato’s “Symposium”); V. Socrates. Alcibiades (Molto tenuto – Allegro molto vivace) (Instrumental)
Disc: 2
1. Chichester Psalms for Chorus and Orchestra; I. Psalm 108 (verse 2) & Psalm 100 (complete)
2. Chichester Psalms for Chorus and Orchestra; II. Psalm 23 (complete) & Psalm 2 (verses 1-4)
3. Chichester Psalms for Chorus and Orchestra; III. Psalm 131 (complete) & Psalm 133 (verse 1)
4. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Opening Hymn; To the Poem
5. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Solos; The Pennycandystore Beyond the El
6. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Solos; A Julia de Burgos
7. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Solos; To What You Said …
8. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Ensembles; I, Too, Sing America – Okay “Negroes”
9. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Ensembles; To My Dear and Loving Husband
10. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Ensembles; Storyette H. M.
11. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Sextet; If You Can’t Eat You Got To
12. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Solos; Music I Heard With You
13. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Solos; Zizi’s Lament
14. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Three Solos; Sonnet: What Lips My Lips Have Kissed …
15. Songfest – A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra; Closing Hymn; Israfel
16. Mass — A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers; 2. Hymn and Psalm: “A Simple Song” (Voice)
17. Nachspiel
18. Dream with Me
Disc: 3
1. West Side Story – Original Broadway Cast; Maria
2. West Side Story – Original Broadway Cast; Tonight
3. America
4. West Side Story – Original Broadway Cast; Somewhere (Ballet)
5. On The Town; Lonely Town (Excerpt)
6. On The Town; Lucky to Be Me (Excerpt)
7. On The Town; Some Other Time (Excerpt) 8. Wonderful Town; Ohio
8. Wonderful Town; A Little Bit In Love (Never Felt This Way Before)
9. Wonderful Town; A Quiet Girl
10. Wonderful Town; Conga!
11. Paris Waltz
12. The Best Of All Possible Worlds
13. It Must Be So
14. Glitter And Be Gay
15. I’m Easily Assimilated
16. Make Our Garden Grow
West Side Story is without a doubt my favorite musical. I know every word of every song but I’ll keep it to myself.
The selections from WEST SIDE STORY on this set sound fantastic, Patti. I don’t know if they remastered the sound, but when I listened to it, it knocked me out! I sometimes sing “Maria” in the shower.
Love it, love it, love it. And isn’t it time for a revival of “Mass”? That remains one of my favorite Bernstein works–although I suppose it hasn’t aged as well as “West Side Story.”
I have a copy of the “MASS” around here somewhere, Deb. I’ll have to track it down an listen to it again. But if you’re a Bernstein fan, this 3-CD set is a must-buy.
Nice fairly lightweight stuff, though when I hear “Bernstein” my first thought is Mahler.
Certainly, the music to West Side Story is great. I am also very fond of My Fair Lady and Camelot, and they are currently doing South Pacific here and the radio ads have clips that bring that one back for me too. One of the first musicals I ever heard, as a child, was The Music Man and I can sorta quote a lot of that one, too. And then of course there’s Brigadoon, Oklahoma, Cats, Guys and Dolls, I could go on and on…
You would enjoy this collection, Rick. As you point out, this isn’t Mahler. But I found it enjoyable nonetheless.
I should have mentioned that I have most of it on other CDs. Happy 4th, George!!
Happy 4th, Rick!