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Leonard Bernstein

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) was a conductor, pianist and composer of both concert music and musicals. He wrote only one original film score: On the Waterfront (1954), for Elia Kazan. It opens with a lone horn, after which percussion and brass crash in. He received an Oscar nomination for it. His musicals made their way to the big screen more often. On the Town (1949) was filmed, but much of his music was replaced in the process. West Side Story (1961) stayed closer to his score, with Latin American rhythms, jazz and a tritone as a recurring motif. That film won ten Oscars and set the tone for the film musical.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen for the irregular rhythms, the finger snaps and the tritone (the interval of three whole tones) that keeps returning in West Side Story.

Discography

Studio albums

Other work

In School of Rock

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See also