Classic Ross Amico

Category: Daily Dispatch

  • Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms on Musical Saw

    Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms on Musical Saw

    Now here’s something you don’t hear every day: a selection from Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,” played at Bernstein’s grave on the MUSICAL SAW.

    Natalia ‘Saw Lady’ Paruz – musical saw player shared this video on WWFM’s Facebook page yesterday afternoon, in celebration of “Uncle Lenny” for the 100th anniversary of his birth. Bernstein was born on this date in 1918.

    We’re still soliciting listener anecdotes and observations. Our hosts will be happy to share your Bernstein-related thoughts over the air, interspersed with classic Bernstein recordings, right up until 5:00 p.m. today. Send your Lenny stories to WWFM via the station’s Facebook page at WWFM – The Classical Network or by email at info@wwfm.org. Make sure to type “Bernstein” in the subject line.

    Sure, playing Bernstein on the musical saw is quixotic, but who knew it would be so beautiful?

  • Bernstein’s 100th Birthday Google Doodle

    Bernstein’s 100th Birthday Google Doodle

    Fabulous Bernstein Google doodle! Google celebrates a round birthday for a change. Do a Google search today, or enjoy the animation here.

    https://www.vox.com/2018/8/25/17779096/leonard-bernsteins-100th-birthday-greatest-works

  • Bernstein Centennial on The Classical Network

    Bernstein Centennial on The Classical Network

    The Bernstein centennial has arrived! The celebration continues on The Classical Network. Join Bill Jerome from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and David Osenberg from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. for more classic Bernstein performances, compositions, and spoken word.

    In addition, “Pipedreams” will be all-Bernstein, tomorrow at 7:00 a.m., and Ted Otten and Michael Kownacky will present the second part of their survey of Bernstein’s music for the theater on “The Dress Circle,” tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.

    You’ll find a more comprehensive list of WWFM Bernstein programs here. Click on the individual links to enjoy webcasts of shows that aired earlier in the week.

    http://www.wwfm.org/topic/leonard-bernstein-100#stream/0

    We’re still loony for Lenny on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org. Happy Birthday, Leonard Bernstein!

  • Bernstein’s Waterfront A Champion Score

    Bernstein’s Waterfront A Champion Score

    “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody – instead of a bum, which is what I am.”

    We’ve all had those kinds of days, haven’t we?

    Yet Leonard Bernstein’s score for “On the Waterfront” (1954) was always a contender, even if at times the composer found himself on the ropes.

    “On the Waterfront” was the only original film score composed by Bernstein (the screen adaptations of his stage musicals were adapted by other hands). Narrative film, of course, is a collaborative effort, in which music is usually the last to the table and the first to go. Bernstein’s score was edited and dialed down to suit the overall needs of the film.

    Unused to such rough treatment, Bernstein found his brush with Hollywood to be dispiriting, to say the least. He arranged his music into a concert suite, over which he had complete control, and the work has gone on to become one of his better-known pieces. That said, what can be heard in the film remains a powerful statement, and one of the great film scores.

    The original recordings, as they appear in the film, were long believed to have been lost. However, in the course of restoration of “On the Waterfront” for release on BluRay, it was discovered that audio had been preserved on acetate discs used for playback during the original recording sessions. Material from these were issued for the first time in 2014, on the Intrada label.

    Bernstein’s music would be nominated for an Academy Award, one of “On the Waterfront”s twelve nominations. The film would be recognized with wins in eight categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), and Best Director (Elia Kazan). Bernstein may have lost out to Dimitri Tiomkin for his work on “The High and the Mighty.” However, like Brando’s Terry Malloy, his score to “On the Waterfront” proves itself a champion.

    We’ll hear selections, alongside some of Aaron Copland’s music for “The Red Pony” (1949), once again, from the film’s original elements; dances from the only film score ever to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music, “Louisiana Story” (1948), by Virgil Thomson; and the music that lends “Picture Perfect” its signature tune, “They Came to Cordura” (1959), by Elie Siegmeister.

    New York composers visit Hollywood this week, as we celebrate the centennial of the birth of Leonard Bernstein, on “Picture Perfect,” music for the movies. This Friday evening at 6:00 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

    Tune in to The Classical Network all day today and tomorrow for more great music and recordings in honor of Bernstein at 100!

  • Celebrating Leonard Bernstein at 100

    Celebrating Leonard Bernstein at 100

    Get ready to cozy up to Bernstein.

    On this, the eve of the centennial of the birth of American music’s greatest polymath, The Classical Network will pull out all the stops, as WWFM hosts share representative performances from the conductor-composer-pianist-teacher’s extensive recorded legacy, alongside a number of his original compositions.

    Here are just a few of today’s featured highlights:

    Alice Weiss (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) – Carl Goldmark’s “Rustic Wedding” Symphony

    Carl Hemmingsen (12:00 – 3:00 p.m.) – Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5

    Carl Hemmingsen & Ross Amico (3:00 – 3:45 p.m.) – Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 2

    Rachel Katz (3:45 – 4:00 p.m.) – A selection of Bernstein’s settings of Jewish texts and prayers, including “Yigdal”

    Ross Amico (4:00 – 7:00 p.m.) – Works by Camille Saint-Saëns, Roy Harris, Robert Schumann, Gustav Mahler, Franz Joseph Haydn, and Bernstein himself. “Picture Perfect” (6 p.m.) will include selections from the rediscovered audio for Bernstein’s only orginal film score, “On the Waterfront.”

    Bill McGlaughlin (7:00 p.m.) – “Exploring Music” concludes its week-long salute to Bernstein with selections from “Mass.”

    Rob Kapilow (8:00 p.m.) – “What Makes It Great” will focus on the genius of Bernstein the songwriter.

    Our centennial salute will continue on Saturday, with Bill Jerome (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) and David Osenberg (1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Among David’s featured highlights will be recorded excerpts from Bernstein’s legendary Harvard lectures.

    You’ll likely encounter even more Bernstein throughout the weekend, including the second half of a two-part tribute to the composer’s theater music on “The Dress Circle” with Ted Otten and Michael Kownacky (Sunday at 7 p.m.). If you missed Part One, you can enjoy it as a webcast, along with Jed Distler’s survey of Bernstein’s recordings as pianist, which aired this past Tuesday on “Between the Keys.” Both programs may be heard by following the link:

    http://www.wwfm.org/term/webcasts

    Also, it’s not too late for you to leave your Leonard Bernstein impressions and anecdotes on our Facebook page, at WWFM – The Classical Network, or by emailing us at info@wwfm.org (put “Bernstein” in the subject line). We’d love to share your experiences on the air. Help lend a personal touch to our celebration of Leonard Bernstein at 100.

    You’ll find more details about our special programming by visiting our website at wwfm.org. While you’re there, consider supporting us. Without you, few of these treasures would be heard outside of our individual listening rooms. Thank you, as always, for doing your part to sustain classical music on the air, 24/7!

    Happy Birthday, Leonard Bernstein!

Tag Cloud

Aaron Copland (94) Beethoven (95) Composer (114) Film Music (153) Film Score (143) Film Scores (255) Halloween (107) John Williams (198) KWAX (233) Leonard Bernstein (105) Marlboro Music Festival (125) Movie Music (168) Mozart (91) Opera (222) Philadelphia Orchestra (91) Picture Perfect (174) Princeton Symphony Orchestra (110) Radio (90) Ross Amico (244) Roy's Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner (290) The Classical Network (101) The Lost Chord (269) Vaughan Williams (107) WPRB (397) WWFM (881)

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