Historical Dictionary of Leonard Bernstein

Paul R. Laird is professor of musicology at the University of Kansas. His research interests include Leonard Bernstein, the Broadway musical, the Spanish villancico, and early string instruments.Hsun Lin is an independent scholar who resides in Monterey, California. Her research interests include Leonard Bernstein, the Broadway musical, string repertoire, and the performance practice of early music.

This volume is part of the “Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts” series, which has now grown to more than 80 volumes. It is the 11th volume devoted to music and the only one so far on a single individual. Bernstein (1918–90) was undoubtedly one of the most versatile and gifted musicians of the 20th century. Well known as a conductor, composer, pianist, educator, and author, he was prominent in both the classical and popular music scenes, not to mention the social scene in mid-century America. From the late 1930s onward, he met and associated with other composers, stage designers and directors, lyricists, producers, dancers, choreographers, educators, politicians, and many other important people both inside and outside the arts. The present volume abounds with cross-references, so it is relatively easy to find, for example, people, places, concert halls, events, titles of works, and subjects connected to Bernstein. The reader may also find here a more well-balanced view of the life and works of this larger-than-life figure than many other resources offer. A lengthy chronology, biographical introduction, works list, and bibliography are provided. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.

• Editor’s ForewordPrefaceAcronyms and AbbreviationsChronologyIntroductionTHE DICTIONARYAppendix: The Compositions of Leonard BernsteinBibliographyAbout the Authors