New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts

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From 1958 through 1973, renowned conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra thrilled audiences with wonderful concert experiences presented in a sparkling music-with-commentary format: the Young People's Concerts.

19581 season

Cast: Leonard Bernstein

HDCC

Season 1

53 episodes

1. What Does Music Mean?Leonard Bernstein told the television audience at the start of the first Young People's Concert: "No matter what stories people tell you about what music means, forget them. Stories are not what music means. Music is never about things. Music just is. It's a lot of beautiful notes and sounds put together so well that we get pleasure out of hearing them. So when we ask, 'What does it mean; what does this piece of music mean?' we're asking a hard question. Let's do our best to answer it." During the course of this first program the New York Philharmonic performs portions of Rossini's William Tell Overture, Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, and Ravel's La Valse.CCJan 18, 1958
2. What is American Music?From Carnegie Hall, Bernstein discusses the origins and characteristics of American music. After an extended excerpt from George Gershwin's An American in Paris and a discussion of nationalistic and folk music, excerpts from compositions by American composers Edward MacDowell, William Schuman, Virgil Thomson, and others are performed. In closing Aaron Copland conducts parts of his own Third Symphony.CCFeb 1, 1958
3. What is Orchestration?After brief introductory remarks, Bernstein conducts the finale of Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio espagnol and then explains what a composer must know in order to orchestrate music successfully. He compares the flute to the trumpet, and the clarinet to the viola, with examples from Debussy and Gershwin. After asking the audience to sing two notes in a variety of ways, he contrasts the families of instruments that compose an orchestra, using excerpts from Prokofiev, Hindemith, Mozart and others to illustrate, and ends with Ravel's Bolero.CCMar 8, 1958
4. What Makes Music Symphonic?Using the examples of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, Bernstein demonstrates the techniques of repetition and variation int he development of symphonic music. After conducting part of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, he asks the audience to sing "Frére Jacques," demonstrating the uses of sequence and imitation in symphonic composition. The final movement of Brahm's Second Symphony is then analyzed and played.CCDec 13, 1958
5. What is Classical Music?Bernstein conducts Handel's Water Music and cites it as an indisputable example of classical music. "Exact" is the word that best defines classical music, Bernstein says, and he demonstrates with musical illustrations from Bach's Fourth Brandenburg Concerto, Mozart's Concerto No. 21 in C Major and The Marriage of Figaro, and Haydn's Symphony No. 102. The decline of classical music at the end of the eighteenth century is tied to Beethoven's innovations and the Romantic movement, and Bernstein conducts Beethoven's Egmont Overture.CCJan 24, 1959
6. Humor in MusicUsing excerpts from Shostakovich, Mahler, Haydn and others Bernstein demonstrates how a "serious" composition can take an unexpected humorous turn. Prokofiev's Classical Symphony is played in its entirety.CCFeb 28, 1959
7. What is a Concerto?Leonard Bernstein discusses the development of the concerto form from Bach to Bartok. Bernstein conducts examples of early concertos-Bach's Fifth Brandenburg Concerto and Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major. From the classical period, he conducts Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante and, finally, the fourth and fifth movements of Bartok's neo-classical Concerto for Orchestra.CCMar 28, 1959
8. Who is Gustav Mahler?Leonard Bernstein celebrates Mahler's centennial by conducting excerpts from the composer's Fourth Symphony in G and discussing his career as a composer and conductor. Soprano Reri Grist joins the orchestra in a performance of the last movement of the Fourth Symphony. William Lewis sings "Youth" and Helen Raab sings from "The Farewell," both from Mahler's The Song of the Earth (Das Lied von der Erde).CCFeb 7, 1960
9. Young Performers No. 1Daniel Domb; Kenneth Schermerhorn; Barry Finclair; Stefan B. Mengelberg; Alexandra WagerCCMar 6, 1960
10. Unusual Instruments of Present, Past, and FutureNew York Pro Musica; Noah Greenberg; Vladimir Ussachevsky; Anita DarianCCMar 27, 1960
11. The Second HurricaneThe High School of Music & ArtCCApr 24, 1960
12. Overtures and PreludesNo synopsis available yet.CCJan 8, 1961
13. Aaron Copland Birthday PartyAaron Copland; William WarfieldCCFeb 12, 1961
14. Young Performers No. 2Lynn Harrell; Elyakum Shapirra; Jung-Ja Kim; Russell Stanger; Veronica Tyler; Gregory Millar; Henry ChapinCCMar 19, 1961
15. Folk Music in the Concert HallBernstein discusses folk music and its influence on orchestral music, and conducts excerpts from Mozart, Chavez and Ives, and "Songs of the Auvergne" sung by Marni Nixon.CCApr 9, 1961
16. What is Impressionism?Bernstein focuses on impressionism in music, discussing the methods and styles of Debussy and Ravel. He conducts three movements from La Mer and the final dance of Daphnis et Chloe.CCDec 1, 1961
17. The Road to ParisZara NelsovaCCJan 18, 1962
18. Happy Birthday, Igor StravinskyBernstein sketches a brief history of Stravinsky's musical career, noting changes of style and shifts of direction. The whole of Petrouchka is played and each scene is analyzed.CCMar 26, 1962
19. Young Performers No. 3Seiji Ozawa; Gary Karr; Maurice Peress; John Canarina; Ruth & Naomi Segal; Paula Robison; Paul Green; Tony Cirone; David HopperCCApr 14, 1962
20. The Sound of a HallJohn Corigliano, Sr.; Frank Gullino; Joseph Bernstein; William DembinskyCCNov 21, 1962
21. What is a Melody?Bernstein discusses the different forms melody can take, including tune, theme, motive, melodic line and musical phrase. He illustrates by conducting the orchestra in excerpts from Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Mozart, Hindemith, and Brahms.CCDec 21, 1962
22. Young Performers No. 4Joan Weiner; Yuri Krasnopolsky; Claudia Hoca; Zoltán Rozsnyai; Pamela Paul; Serge Fournier; André WattsCCJan 15, 1963
23. The Latin American SpiritBernstein discusses "the two ingredients that give this music its special Latin flavor: rhythm and color." Excerpts include Bernstein's own Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.CCMar 8, 1963
24. A Tribute to TeachersNo synopsis available yet.CCNov 29, 1963
25. Young Performers No. 5Heidi Lehwalder; Amos Eisenberg; Weldon Berry, Jr.; Claudio Abbado; Shulamit Ran (as Shulamith Ran); Pedro Calderon; Stephen E. Kates; Zdeněk KošlerCCDec 23, 1963
26. The Genius of Paul HindemithNo synopsis available yet.CCFeb 23, 1964
27. Jazz in the Concert HallBernstein discusses the blending of jazz and symphonic music, with performances and readings to illustrate. The program ends with Larry Austin's Improvisations for Orchestra and Jazz Soloists.CCMar 11, 1964
28. What is Sonata Form?Bernstein describes the three-part sonata form, and exemplifies it by singing the Beatle's "And I Love Her." Veronica Tyler sings Micaela's aria from Bizet's Carmen and Bernstein conducts the Philharmonic in the first movement of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony.CCNov 6, 1964
29. Farewell to NationalismNo synopsis available yet.CCNov 30, 1964
30. Young Performers No. 6Patricia Michaelian; James Boswell IVCCJan 28, 1965
31. A Tribute to SibeliusBernstein celebrates the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, and comments on Finland, the Finnish language, and Finnish patriotism, as well as Sibelius himself. Works by the composer, including Finlandia and the first movement of his Violin Concerto, with soloist Sergiu Luca, are performed.CCFeb 19, 1965
32. Musical Atoms: A Study of IntervalsBernstein explains musical intervals and discusses their relationship to harmony, melody and inversion. After analysis, the first movement of Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major by Brahms is performed. The discussion continues, focusing on major and minor seconds.CCNov 29, 1965
33. The Sound of an OrchestraBernstein explains that the duty of the orchestra is to reproduce faithfully the notes and instructions of the composer. The main focus is the first half of Haydn's Symphony No. 88. The opening music is deliberately played incorrectly and errors are pointed out.CCDec 14, 1965
34. A Birthday Tribute to ShostakovichBernstein celebrates Dmitri Shostakovich's sixtieth birthday by discussing his work and conducting an excerpt from his Symphony No. 7 and all of Symphony No. 9.CCDec 15, 1965
35. Young Performers No. 7Performers include Paul Schoenfeld; Stephanie Sebastian; David Oei; Horacio Gutiérrez; James DePreist; Jacques Houtmann; Edo de Waart.CCFeb 22, 1966
36. What is a Mode?Bernstein discusses scales, intervals and tones, and analyzes several pieces, including Debussy's Fêtes, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and music from the Kinks and the Beatles, to illustrate different modes. An excerpt from Bernstein's ballet Fancy Free is also performed.CCNov 23, 1966
37. Young Performers No. 8Elmar Oliveira; Mark Salkind; Fred Alston; Donald Green; Juan Pablo Izquierdo; Sylvia Caduff; George Reid; Young Uck KimCCJan 27, 1967
38. Charles Ives: American PioneerNo synopsis available yet.CCFeb 23, 1967
39. Alumni ReunionStephen E. Kates; Veronica Tyler; André WattsCCApr 19, 1967
40. A Toast to Vienna in 3/4 TimeBernstein pays tribute to New York Philharmonic's "fraternal orchestra," the Vienna Philharmonic, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of both orchestras. Works by Johann and Richard Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, and Mahler are performed, preceded by a brief discussion.CCDec 25, 1967
41. Forever BeethovenJoseph Kalichstein; Paul CapolongoCCJan 28, 1968
42. Young Performers No. 9Lawrence Foster; Alois Springer; Martin and Steven Vann; Helen Quach, Michael DeTempleCCMar 31, 1968
43. Quiz-Concert: How Musical Are You?Leonard Bernstein quizzes Avery Fisher Hall and television audiences on their musicality. Highlights include true-or-false questions with musical examples, and excerpts from Mozart, Prokofiev, and Rimsky-Korsakov.CCMay 26, 1968
44. Fantastic Variations (Don Quixote)Lorne Munroe, cellistCCDec 25, 1968
45. Bach TransmogrifiedMichael Korn; Leopold Stokowski; Moog synthesizer; New York Rock and Roll EnsembleCCApr 27, 1969
46. Berlioz Takes a TripBernstein discusses what he describes as the "first psychedelic symphony," Berlioz's La Symphonie fantastique, examining the concept of the idée fixe in music and illustrating this concept with excerpts froth first movement. Bernstein analyzes the music and discusses the story line of the remaining movements, which are performed by the Philharmonic.CCMay 25, 1969
47. Two Ballet BirdsBernstein compares the main theme of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake with Stravinsky's Firebird. A performance of the pas de deux from Swan Lake illustrates the concept of abstract ballet, followed by excerpts from Stravinsky's Firebird.CCSep 14, 1969
48. Fidelio: A Celebration of LifeBernstein takes a look at Beethoven's so-called "flawed masterpiece" - his only opera, Fidelio. After discussing the story and its problems, "charming excerpts" are performed. Four vocal selection from Act II follow, each preceded by analysis and plot summary.CCMar 29, 1970
49. The Anatomy of a Symphony OrchestraNo synopsis available yet.CCMay 24, 1970
50. A Copland CelebrationNo synopsis available yet.CCDec 27, 1970
51. Thus Spake Richard StraussNo synopsis available yet.CCApr 4, 1971
52. Liszt and the DevilNo synopsis available yet.CCFeb 13, 1972
53. Holst: The PlanetsNo synopsis available yet.CCMar 26, 1972

New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts

19581 season53 episodesEnded

Creators and cast

Created by: Leonard Bernstein
Cast: Leonard Bernstein

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Leonard Bernstein

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