Leonard Bernstein Autograph Manuscript Signed for a Young People's Concert

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By RR Auction

Aug 16, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-08-16 18:00:00 2023-08-16 18:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : RR Auction: Fine Autographs and Artifacts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/rr-auction/rr-auction-fine-autographs-and-artifacts-13323
RR Auction's August Fine Autographs and Artifacts sale brings nearly 750 lots to the auction block, with a special focus on the collection of Dr. Charles Ronald Bauer—an in-person collector who focused on entertainment's elite. RR Auction support@rrauction.com

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• Lot Description
  Phenomenal AMS in pencil by Leonard Bernstein, consisting of an outline draft for one of his influential Young People's Concerts at the New York Philharmonic, one page, 8 x 12.5, signed at the bottom in black felt tip, “Sketch for a projected Young People’s Concert—Leonard Bernstein, April 1969.” In the upper margin, Bernstein has written “Ballet Birds,” “Swan Lake - Firebird,” and “Pas de deux danced? Balanchine?,” all significant notations that point to this draft serving as an early stratagem for his Young People's Concert episode ‘Two Ballet Birds,’ which aired on CBS Television on September 14, 1969. The outline mirrors neatly with Bernstein’s final version of the program’s script, with the conductor addressing “Flying,” the “great tradition” of Russian composers, the relationship of Swan Lake and Firebird as being “romantic story-ballets,” their “fairy tale” ingredients of magic, the villain, and the “idea of love conquers evil,” and their inherent differences. At the bottom of the page, Bernstein has added some geometric scribbles and sketches, boxing in a quote in the left margin that reads, “All music can be traced to other music.” In fine condition.
  
  
  
  Per the conductor's official website: ‘Bernstein conducted his first Young People's Concert on January 18, 1958, just two weeks after becoming Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. Such programs were already a Philharmonic tradition when Bernstein arrived, but he made them a centerpiece of his work, part of what he described as his ‘educational mission.’ Looking back on the concerts years later, he referred to them as being ‘among my favorite, most highly prized activities of my life’äó_Bernstein led a total of fifty-three Young People's Concerts [over] fourteen years, and covered a broad range of subjects. The works of the great composers were explored, including tributes to modern masters such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Paul Hindemith, Gustav Holst, Aaron Copland, and Charles Ivesäó_Bernstein usually planned the programs for the Young People's Concerts based on repertory from the New York Philharmonic's regular concert season. He wrote the scripts himself, then worked with the program's production staff to make any needed cuts, to clarify or simplify wording and analogies, and to streamline the pacing of the presentation.’
  
  
  
  <a href="https://leonardbernstein.com/lectures/television-scripts/young-peoples-concerts/two-ballet-birds">Bernstein's final script for the episode can be found here.</a>
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