Symphonic Dances From West Side Story Program Notes For Band
Symphonic Dances From West Side Story / Arrangement For Two Pianos by John Musto. Bernstein, Leonard. Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes. This arrangement was first performed in 1998 at the Murray Dranoff International Piano Competition in Miami. With a program note and synopsis by Jack.
In 1957 Leonard Bernstein, together with choreographer Jerome Robbins and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, created the work which was to assure his reputation as a composer: West Side Story. Autodesk inventor professional 2014 64 bit download. A modern-day, big-city adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, this 'social music drama' moves the tragic tale of the lovers of Verona to the once-impoverished west side of Manhattan. West Side Story was premiered in Washington DC in August 1957 and repeated the following month in New York, where its success ensured a run of almost two years (772 performances) and a national tour. In 1960, Bernstein drew from it an orchestral suite of Symphonic Dances which follows the principal episodes of the drama.
The score brings together the musical's most famous songs ('Somewhere,' 'Maria'), dances ('Mambo,' 'Cha-cha,' 'Rumba') and orchestral sections ('Meeting Scene'), from the opening confrontation of the Jets and Sharks ('Prologue') to the recapitulation of the 'Finale.' With a kaleidoscopic range of moods and emotions, the suite is a marvel of stylistic diversity and compositional skill. Especially notable are the score's rhythmic intricacies, as classical techniques (i.e. fugue) blend with dance rhythms and jazz syncopations. Yet the most prominent ingredient appears in the opening melodic figure of 'Maria' (C-F sharp-G) with its characteristic tritone interval. Bernstein pinpointed this as the kernel of the entire score: '..The three notes pervade the whole piece, inverted, done backwards. I didn't do all this on purpose. It seemed to come out in 'Cool' and as the gang whistle [in 'Prologue']. The same three notes.' Indeed, like the musical, the suite ends on a tense, unresolved, and haunting chord containing the same interval.
The Symphonic Dances were premiered at a 'Valentine for Leonard Bernstein' gala concert by the New York Philharmonic (a fund-raiser for the orchestra's pension fund) under the direction of Lukas Foss on February 13, 1961. The suite remains one of Bernstein's most popular works.
Parts/Movements

- Prologue
- Somewhere
- Scherzo
- Mambo
- Cha-Cha (Maria)
- Meeting Scene
- Fugue (Cool)
- Rumble
- Finale
Appears On
| Year | Title | Label | Catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Navona Records | NV 6230 | |
| 2018 | Orfeo | C 932182A | |
| 2018 | Somm | ARIADNE 5002 | |
| 2018 | BIS | BIS 2278 | |
| 2018 | Decca / Deutsche Grammophon | 4798418 | |
| 2018 | Warner Classics | 573599 | |
| 2018 | Pentatone | PTC 5186619 | |
| 2018 | ABC Classics | 4817378 | |
| 2018 | ABC Classics | ||
| 2018 | Warner Classics | 567467 | |
| 2016 | Warner Classics | 0190295974930 | |
| 2014 | Sony Classical | 88843047122 | |
| 2014 | Decca | ||
| 2014 | Erato / Erato Disques / Warner Classics | 2564634485 | |
| 2014 | Gia / GIA Publications | GIA 937 | |
| 2014 | Music At Immanuel | ||
| 2013 | Alto | 1209 | |
| 2012 | Genuin | GEN 12247 | |
| 2012 | Masterworks Broadway | 88725416952 | |
| 2012 | Naxos | 8572837 | |
| 2012 | EMI Classics / Warner Classics | 5099967812325 | |
| 2012 | Masterworks / Masterworks Broadway | 88691948412 | |
| 2011 | Warner Classics / Wcj | 69816 | |
| 2011 | Ondine | ODE11902D | |
| 2010 | Digital | ||
| 2010 | RPO | 19 | |
| 2010 | Decca | 4782358 | |
| 2010 | Universal Classics & Jazz | ||
| 2010 | Royal Philharmonic Masterworks / RPO | 28780 | |
| 2010 | EMI Classics | ||
| 2010 | Columbia Masterworks / Sony Classical | 88697700432 | |
| 2010 | Deutsche Grammophon | ||
| 2010 | Sony Classical | 88697757642 | |
| 2010 | Sony Masterworks | 8869771772 | |
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Deutsche Grammophon | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Warner Classics | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Documents | 232777 | |
| 2009 | Sony Classics / Sony Music Distribution | 750534 | |
| 2008 | EMI Classics / Warner Classics | 5099921750 | |
| 2008 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4717372 | |
| 2008 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4717372 | |
| 2008 | EMI Classics / Warner Classics | 5099920662 | |
| 2008 | EMI Classics | ||
| 2008 | Sony Music Distribution | 727988 | |
| 2007 | Virgin Classics | 3913392 | |
| 2007 | Solal | 001 | |
| 2007 | Apex | ||
| 2006 | Deutsche Grammophon | 577002 | |
| 2006 | Virgin | 363301 | |
| 2006 | Erato | ||
| 2006 | Arte Nova | 433210 | |
| 2006 | Reference Recordings | 105 | |
| 2005 | CPO | 777039 | |
| 2005 | Erato / Warner Classics | ||
| 2005 | Apex | 4621182 | |
| 2005 | Virgin Classics | ||
| 2005 | Sony Music Distribution | 92989 | |
| 2005 | Pavane | 7489 | |
| 2004 | Sony Classical | 92728 | |
| 2004 | EMI Music Distribution | 585627 | |
| 2004 | Deutsche Grammophon | 000306402 | |
| 2004 | Universal Classics & Jazz | ||
| 2003 | Deutsche Grammophon | 000001402 | |
| 2003 | Deutsche Grammophon | 69202 | |
| 2003 | Deutsche Grammophon | 474426 | |
| 2003 | Arabesque | 6764 | |
| 2002 | Accord | 119 | |
| 2002 | Brilliant | 6169 | |
| 2001 | Deutsche Grammophon | 471518 | |
| 2001 | Deutsche Grammophon | 469 277-2GP2 | |
| 2001 | Sony Classical | 89750 | |
| 2000 | Sony Music Distribution | 89043 | |
| 2000 | Virgin | 91194 | |
| 2000 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4634852 | |
| 1999 | Penguin Classics | 460 656-2DP | |
| 1999 | Deutsche Grammophon / PolyGram | 463465 | |
| 1999 | Intersound | 2878 | |
| 1999 | Virgin | 61612 | |
| 1998 | Deutsche Grammophon | 459147 | |
| 1998 | Virgin | 45295 | |
| 1998 | Russian Music Society | ||
| 1998 | EMI Music Distribution | 72800 | |
| 1998 | Columbia / Sony Classical | 60724 | |
| 1998 | Columbia | 60724 | |
| 1998 | Sony Classical / Sony Music Distribution | 60724 | |
| 1997 | London | 452916 | |
| 1997 | BMG | 68695 | |
| 1997 | Arte Nova | 74321 43321-2 | |
| 1997 | PopeMusic | PM1011-2 | |
| 1997 | Azica Records | 71206 | |
| 1996 | Deutsche Grammophon | 439926 | |
| 1995 | RCA | 68334 | |
| 1995 | WVH | 102 | |
| 1994 | BIS | 352 | |
| 1994 | Sony Music Distribution | 64419 | |
| 1994 | EMI Music Distribution | 67487 | |
| 1993 | EBS | 6038 | |
| 1993 | Philips / Philips | 438663 | |
| 1993 | Philips | PH-438-663 | |
| 1993 | Teldec | 92143 | |
| 1993 | Collins Records | 12882 | |
| 1993 | Deutsche Grammophon | 439521 | |
| 1992 | Sony Music Distribution | 47529 | |
| 1990 | Sony Classical | 46701 | |
| 1990 | London | 4301342 | |
| 1990 | CBS Records / Columbia | 42263 | |
| 1989 | Sony Music Distribution | 45531 | |
| 1988 | Teldec | 844146 | |
| 1983 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4100252 | |
| Philharmonia of the Nations | 54 | ||
| Erasmus | 102 | ||
| Naxos | 8559099 | ||
| Rondo Grammofon | 8331 | ||
| Deutsche Grammophon | 413851 | ||
| Deutsche Grammophon | 419625 | ||
| Deutsche Grammophon | 427806 | ||
| Virgin | 61194 | ||
| RCA | 902668699 | ||
| Ambitus | 97836 | ||
| Sony Music Distribution | 47154 | ||
| RCA Red Seal | 74321922522 | ||
| Mark Custom Recording | 3708 | ||
| Music at Immanuel | 5605 | ||
| CBS Records | 42263 | ||
| EMI Music Distribution | 67487 |
Symphonic Dances From West Side Story Program Notes For Bands
In 1957 Leonard Bernstein, together with choreographer Jerome Robbins and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, created the work which was to assure his reputation as a composer: West Side Story. A modern-day, big-city adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, this 'social music drama' moves the tragic tale of the lovers of Verona to the once-impoverished west side of Manhattan. West Side Story was premiered in Washington DC in August 1957 and repeated the following month in New York, where its success ensured a run of almost two years (772 performances) and a national tour. In 1960, Bernstein drew from it an orchestral suite of Symphonic Dances which follows the principal episodes of the drama.
The score brings together the musical's most famous songs ('Somewhere,' 'Maria'), dances ('Mambo,' 'Cha-cha,' 'Rumba') and orchestral sections ('Meeting Scene'), from the opening confrontation of the Jets and Sharks ('Prologue') to the recapitulation of the 'Finale.' With a kaleidoscopic range of moods and emotions, the suite is a marvel of stylistic diversity and compositional skill. Especially notable are the score's rhythmic intricacies, as classical techniques (i.e. fugue) blend with dance rhythms and jazz syncopations. Yet the most prominent ingredient appears in the opening melodic figure of 'Maria' (C-F sharp-G) with its characteristic tritone interval. Bernstein pinpointed this as the kernel of the entire score: '..The three notes pervade the whole piece, inverted, done backwards. I didn't do all this on purpose. It seemed to come out in 'Cool' and as the gang whistle [in 'Prologue']. The same three notes.' Indeed, like the musical, the suite ends on a tense, unresolved, and haunting chord containing the same interval.
The Symphonic Dances were premiered at a 'Valentine for Leonard Bernstein' gala concert by the New York Philharmonic (a fund-raiser for the orchestra's pension fund) under the direction of Lukas Foss on February 13, 1961. The suite remains one of Bernstein's most popular works.
Parts/Movements
- Prologue
- Somewhere
- Scherzo
- Mambo
- Cha-Cha (Maria)
- Meeting Scene
- Fugue (Cool)
- Rumble
- Finale
Appears On
| Year | Title | Label | Catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Navona Records | NV 6230 | |
| 2018 | Orfeo | C 932182A | |
| 2018 | Somm | ARIADNE 5002 | |
| 2018 | BIS | BIS 2278 | |
| 2018 | Decca / Deutsche Grammophon | 4798418 | |
| 2018 | Warner Classics | 573599 | |
| 2018 | Pentatone | PTC 5186619 | |
| 2018 | ABC Classics | 4817378 | |
| 2018 | ABC Classics | ||
| 2018 | Warner Classics | 567467 | |
| 2016 | Warner Classics | 0190295974930 | |
| 2014 | Sony Classical | 88843047122 | |
| 2014 | Decca | ||
| 2014 | Erato / Erato Disques / Warner Classics | 2564634485 | |
| 2014 | Gia / GIA Publications | GIA 937 | |
| 2014 | Music At Immanuel | ||
| 2013 | Alto | 1209 | |
| 2012 | Genuin | GEN 12247 | |
| 2012 | Masterworks Broadway | 88725416952 | |
| 2012 | Naxos | 8572837 | |
| 2012 | EMI Classics / Warner Classics | 5099967812325 | |
| 2012 | Masterworks / Masterworks Broadway | 88691948412 | |
| 2011 | Warner Classics / Wcj | 69816 | |
| 2011 | Ondine | ODE11902D | |
| 2010 | Digital | ||
| 2010 | RPO | 19 | |
| 2010 | Decca | 4782358 | |
| 2010 | Universal Classics & Jazz | ||
| 2010 | Royal Philharmonic Masterworks / RPO | 28780 | |
| 2010 | EMI Classics | ||
| 2010 | Columbia Masterworks / Sony Classical | 88697700432 | |
| 2010 | Deutsche Grammophon | ||
| 2010 | Sony Classical | 88697757642 | |
| 2010 | Sony Masterworks | 8869771772 | |
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Deutsche Grammophon | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Warner Classics | ||
| 2009 | Denon Records | ||
| 2009 | Documents | 232777 | |
| 2009 | Sony Classics / Sony Music Distribution | 750534 | |
| 2008 | EMI Classics / Warner Classics | 5099921750 | |
| 2008 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4717372 | |
| 2008 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4717372 | |
| 2008 | EMI Classics / Warner Classics | 5099920662 | |
| 2008 | EMI Classics | ||
| 2008 | Sony Music Distribution | 727988 | |
| 2007 | Virgin Classics | 3913392 | |
| 2007 | Solal | 001 | |
| 2007 | Apex | ||
| 2006 | Deutsche Grammophon | 577002 | |
| 2006 | Virgin | 363301 | |
| 2006 | Erato | ||
| 2006 | Arte Nova | 433210 | |
| 2006 | Reference Recordings | 105 | |
| 2005 | CPO | 777039 | |
| 2005 | Erato / Warner Classics | ||
| 2005 | Apex | 4621182 | |
| 2005 | Virgin Classics | ||
| 2005 | Sony Music Distribution | 92989 | |
| 2005 | Pavane | 7489 | |
| 2004 | Sony Classical | 92728 | |
| 2004 | EMI Music Distribution | 585627 | |
| 2004 | Deutsche Grammophon | 000306402 | |
| 2004 | Universal Classics & Jazz | ||
| 2003 | Deutsche Grammophon | 000001402 | |
| 2003 | Deutsche Grammophon | 69202 | |
| 2003 | Deutsche Grammophon | 474426 | |
| 2003 | Arabesque | 6764 | |
| 2002 | Accord | 119 | |
| 2002 | Brilliant | 6169 | |
| 2001 | Deutsche Grammophon | 471518 | |
| 2001 | Deutsche Grammophon | 469 277-2GP2 | |
| 2001 | Sony Classical | 89750 | |
| 2000 | Sony Music Distribution | 89043 | |
| 2000 | Virgin | 91194 | |
| 2000 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4634852 | |
| 1999 | Penguin Classics | 460 656-2DP | |
| 1999 | Deutsche Grammophon / PolyGram | 463465 | |
| 1999 | Intersound | 2878 | |
| 1999 | Virgin | 61612 | |
| 1998 | Deutsche Grammophon | 459147 | |
| 1998 | Virgin | 45295 | |
| 1998 | Russian Music Society | ||
| 1998 | EMI Music Distribution | 72800 | |
| 1998 | Columbia / Sony Classical | 60724 | |
| 1998 | Columbia | 60724 | |
| 1998 | Sony Classical / Sony Music Distribution | 60724 | |
| 1997 | London | 452916 | |
| 1997 | BMG | 68695 | |
| 1997 | Arte Nova | 74321 43321-2 | |
| 1997 | PopeMusic | PM1011-2 | |
| 1997 | Azica Records | 71206 | |
| 1996 | Deutsche Grammophon | 439926 | |
| 1995 | RCA | 68334 | |
| 1995 | WVH | 102 | |
| 1994 | BIS | 352 | |
| 1994 | Sony Music Distribution | 64419 | |
| 1994 | EMI Music Distribution | 67487 | |
| 1993 | EBS | 6038 | |
| 1993 | Philips / Philips | 438663 | |
| 1993 | Philips | PH-438-663 | |
| 1993 | Teldec | 92143 | |
| 1993 | Collins Records | 12882 | |
| 1993 | Deutsche Grammophon | 439521 | |
| 1992 | Sony Music Distribution | 47529 | |
| 1990 | Sony Classical | 46701 | |
| 1990 | London | 4301342 | |
| 1990 | CBS Records / Columbia | 42263 | |
| 1989 | Sony Music Distribution | 45531 | |
| 1988 | Teldec | 844146 | |
| 1983 | Deutsche Grammophon | 4100252 | |
| philharmonia of the nations | 54 | ||
| erasmus | 102 | ||
| naxos | 8559099 | ||
| rondo grammofon | 8331 | ||
| deutsche grammophon | 413851 | ||
| deutsche grammophon | 419625 | ||
| deutsche grammophon | 427806 | ||
| virgin | 61194 | ||
| rca | 902668699 | ||
| ambitus | 97836 | ||
| sony music distribution | 47154 | ||
| rca red seal | 74321922522 | ||
| mark custom recording | 3708 | ||
| music at immanuel | 5605 | ||
| cbs records | 42263 | ||
| emi music distribution | 67487 |