Critic Herbert Livingston described Four Anniversaries:
The first written with restraint and cultivated lyricism, is serene and song-like. There follows a short waspish scherzo, interesting principally for the rhythmic surprises; a slow elegiac piece freely contrapuntal in structure: and a vigorous finale, also predominantly contrapuntal, involving sudden extreme dynamic changes.[1]
It was first performed by Eunice Podis on October 1, 1948 in Cleveland, Ohio.[2][3]
Movementsedit
"For Felicia Montealegre (February 6, 1922)". The first movement was written for Leonard Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre, a Chilean actress. This movement is marked Tranquillo: piacevole and then Pochissimo più mosso,[2] which means "a little faster". The movement begins at piano and ends on pianississimo which sets the mood for the next movement.
"For Johnny Mehegan (June 6, 1920)". The second movement is dedicated to Johnny Mehegan, a jazz pianist. Marked Agitato: scherzando, this movement has the playful feel of a scherzo and the syncopation of what could be heard of as jazz improvisation. To balance the first movement, it begins at pianississimo where the first movement leaves off and ends pianissimo.
"For David Diamond (July 9, 1915)". The third movement was composed for David Leo Diamond, also an established composer. “His music was characterized by its classic structures and its strong melodic sense.” [4] This movement represents the style of Diamond. There is a strong sense of melody line and character and because it is marked Andantino, the flowing melody line can be linked to the first movement. Like the previous two movements, this movement begins softly starting on piano and ending on pianissimo.
"For Helen Coates (July 19, 1899)". Helen Coates was a long time friend to Leonard Bernstein. She was not only his piano instructor as a child but later became his personal secretary. It is no wonder then that the last movement is the longest and the most technically difficult. This is the only movement to begin and end on forte.
Conclusionedit
The four movements complement each other in that while they remain unique and representative of the unique person they were written for. The piece takes its form from the baroque sonata da chiesa form by alternating the movements from slow-fast-slow-fast. There are common themes and a sense of tonality that help to bring the work together. Donald Truesdell quotes James Tocco, pianist, who gets to the heart of the piece:
Lenny may disagree with me but one finds much more about him in the Anniversaries than the people to whom they are dedicated. I sense that Lenny may have been attracted to certain characteristics of a personality that in some way reflected something in himself-aspects of his own personality that he wished to develop.[5]
Leonard Bernstein composed Four Anniversaries for the Piano to commemorate the birthdays of four important people in his life and the result is four individual movements that form one coherent piece.
Sourcesedit
Anderson, Martin. "Review: A Bernstein Cornucopia." Tempo, new series, no. 180. (March 1992), pp. 44–49.
Anon. “Diamond, David Leo,” In Britannica Book of the Year, 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 11 2008, <http://www.britannica.com>
Livingston, Herbert, "Reviewed Work(s): Four Anniversaries by Leonard Bernstein," Notes, 2nd Ser., vol. 7, no. 1. (Dec., 1949), p. 141.
Truesdell, F. Donald. “The Complete Works for Solo Piano by Leonard Bernstein.” American Music, vol. 4, no. 1 (British-American Musical Interactions, Spring, 1986). pp. 120–21.
Referencesedit
^Livingston, Herbert, “Reviewed Work(s): Four Anniversaries by Leonard Bernstein,” Notes, 2nd Ser., Vol. 7, No. 1. (Dec. 1949), p. 141.
^ abBernstein, Leonard (2014). Complete anniversaries: for piano. Boosey & Hawkes. ISBN978-1-4803-9358-5. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
^Elwell, Herbert. "Eunice Podis is Thrilling in Varied Piano Program." Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2 October 1948, 26.
^Anon., “Diamond, David Leo,” in Britannica Book of the Year, 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 11 2008, http://www.britannica.com
^Truesdell, F. Donald. “The Complete Works for Solo Piano by Leonard Bernstein.” American Music, Vol. 4, No. 1, British-American Musical Interactions. (Spring, 1986). pp.120–121.
January 01, 1970
four, anniversaries, composition, piano, written, 1948, american, composer, leonard, bernstein, anniversariespiano, music, leonard, bernsteinthe, composer, 1950sdedicationfelicia, montealegre, johnny, mehegan, david, diamond, helen, coatespublished1948, 1948, . Four Anniversaries is a composition for piano written in 1948 by the American composer Leonard Bernstein AnniversariesPiano music by Leonard BernsteinThe composer in the 1950sDedicationFelicia Montealegre Johnny Mehegan David Diamond Helen CoatesPublished1948 1948 Movementsfour Contents 1 Background 2 Movements 3 Conclusion 4 Sources 5 ReferencesBackground editFour Anniversaries consists of four movements each written for a different person in Bernstein s life Leonard Bernstein composed four works using the same concept Seven Anniversaries 1943 Four Anniversaries 1948 Five Anniversaries 1949 1951 and Thirteen Anniversaries completed 1988 Each movement celebrates the birthday of a different individual such as Serge Koussevitzky Paul Bowles William Schuman Stephen Sondheim and Aaron Copland The Four Anniversaries are dedicated to Felicia Montealegre Johnny Mehegan David Diamond and Helen Coates Critic Herbert Livingston described Four Anniversaries The first written with restraint and cultivated lyricism is serene and song like There follows a short waspish scherzo interesting principally for the rhythmic surprises a slow elegiac piece freely contrapuntal in structure and a vigorous finale also predominantly contrapuntal involving sudden extreme dynamic changes 1 It was first performed by Eunice Podis on October 1 1948 in Cleveland Ohio 2 3 Movements edit For Felicia Montealegre February 6 1922 The first movement was written for Leonard Bernstein s wife Felicia Montealegre a Chilean actress This movement is marked Tranquillo piacevole and then Pochissimo piu mosso 2 which means a little faster The movement begins at piano and ends on pianississimo which sets the mood for the next movement For Johnny Mehegan June 6 1920 The second movement is dedicated to Johnny Mehegan a jazz pianist Marked Agitato scherzando this movement has the playful feel of a scherzo and the syncopation of what could be heard of as jazz improvisation To balance the first movement it begins at pianississimo where the first movement leaves off and ends pianissimo For David Diamond July 9 1915 The third movement was composed for David Leo Diamond also an established composer His music was characterized by its classic structures and its strong melodic sense 4 This movement represents the style of Diamond There is a strong sense of melody line and character and because it is marked Andantino the flowing melody line can be linked to the first movement Like the previous two movements this movement begins softly starting on piano and ending on pianissimo For Helen Coates July 19 1899 Helen Coates was a long time friend to Leonard Bernstein She was not only his piano instructor as a child but later became his personal secretary It is no wonder then that the last movement is the longest and the most technically difficult This is the only movement to begin and end on forte Conclusion editThe four movements complement each other in that while they remain unique and representative of the unique person they were written for The piece takes its form from the baroque sonata da chiesa form by alternating the movements from slow fast slow fast There are common themes and a sense of tonality that help to bring the work together Donald Truesdell quotes James Tocco pianist who gets to the heart of the piece Lenny may disagree with me but one finds much more about him in the Anniversaries than the people to whom they are dedicated I sense that Lenny may have been attracted to certain characteristics of a personality that in some way reflected something in himself aspects of his own personality that he wished to develop 5 Leonard Bernstein composed Four Anniversaries for the Piano to commemorate the birthdays of four important people in his life and the result is four individual movements that form one coherent piece Sources editAnderson Martin Review A Bernstein Cornucopia Tempo new series no 180 March 1992 pp 44 49 Anon Diamond David Leo In Britannica Book of the Year 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 11 2008 lt http www britannica com gt Horowitz Mark Eden About the Leonard Bernstein Collection The Leonard Bernstein Collection Library of Congress 11 February 2008 http memory loc gov ammem lbhtml lbabout html Livingston Herbert Reviewed Work s Four Anniversaries by Leonard Bernstein Notes 2nd Ser vol 7 no 1 Dec 1949 p 141 Truesdell F Donald The Complete Works for Solo Piano by Leonard Bernstein American Music vol 4 no 1 British American Musical Interactions Spring 1986 pp 120 21 References edit Livingston Herbert Reviewed Work s Four Anniversaries by Leonard Bernstein Notes 2nd Ser Vol 7 No 1 Dec 1949 p 141 a b Bernstein Leonard 2014 Complete anniversaries for piano Boosey amp Hawkes ISBN 978 1 4803 9358 5 Retrieved 14 April 2020 Elwell Herbert Eunice Podis is Thrilling in Varied Piano Program Cleveland Plain Dealer 2 October 1948 26 Anon Diamond David Leo in Britannica Book of the Year 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 11 2008 http www britannica com Truesdell F Donald The Complete Works for Solo Piano by Leonard Bernstein American Music Vol 4 No 1 British American Musical Interactions Spring 1986 pp 120 121 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Four Anniversaries amp oldid 1212583987, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
