By Barbara Miller Beem From the Broadway stage and concert halls around the globe to the big screen (and the little screen), Leonard Bernstein left an indelible mark on the world of music, bridging the gap for fans with divergent tastes and interests. In remembrance of the multi-talented man as the 100th anniversary of his birth approaches, a wide range of commemorative performances continue to be offered at this, the midway point of a two-year celebration. And for collectors, a variety of Bernstein-related memorabilia helps to keep the magic alive with tangible reminders of his life and work. Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Mass., on Aug. 25, 1918, to a family of Russian immigrants. Although others in his family exhibited no extraordinary musical talent, he credited his aunt with changing his life by introducing him to the piano at the age of 10. He studied music at Harvard and then at the Curtis Institute of Music. He began his career at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as an assistant conductor. It was during this tenure that he famously filled in for an ailing Bruno Walter at a nationally broadcast concert. In 1958, Bernstein became the first American-born music director of a major orchestra. A prolific composer, Bernstein wrote musicals and film scores, ballets and operas, and orchestral, piano, choral, and chamber music. He was the author of three books and worked as a teacher and social activist. Quite simply, “he was a Renaissance man,” according Craig Urquhart, Bernstein’s longtime personal assistant, himself a composer and pianist. Of his mentor, Urquhart added, “He had a lot to give.” “I – and the family – are very excited about the birthday,” Urquhart continued, noting that the worldwide “outpouring of love” is gratifying. He pointed out that there are well over 3,500 documented events (and countless others) in communities around the world, scheduled to pay homage to Bernstein, who died at the age of 72 in 1990. He was, in his assistant’s words, “loved and appreciated while he was alive,” and the enthusiasm shown for him posthumously is especially strong. Careful steps have been taken to ensure that Bernstein’s place in history is preserved. Thousands of his letters and manuscripts are housed at the Library of Congress. Additionally, his family donated the contents of his Fairfield, Conn., composing studio to the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, including 39 nomination plaques, the desk where he wrote West Side Story, and a conducting stool from the Vienna Philharmonic, said to have been used by Johannes Brahms. At the Leonard Bernstein Office in New York City, a framed collection of original sheet music for his compositions hangs on the walls. And there are ample opportunities for private collectors to own a piece of musical history. Programs, ticket stubs, and posters, as well as stamps (the Postal Service commemorated Bernstein in 2001 with a 34-cent stamp) can be purchased for modest amounts. Newspaper clippings of his obituary, as well as magazine ads, are suitable for framing. His music continues to come alive with recordings, including 78 rpms (most notably Fancy Free), long-playing vinyl records, and compact discs, all reasonably priced. Books by or about Bernstein are also collectible; of special interest for the serious collector are signed copies of first editions of his writings, available for under $1,000. “Bernstein memorabilia really doesn’t come up at auction very often, but when it does, fans spend quite a lot for items relating to him,” said Eric Bradley, a spokesman for Heritage Auctions. Autographed photographs can be purchased in the $100 range at auction; similarly priced is a recently sold typed and hand-signed letter on Philharmonic letterhead. Rarer, one-of-a-kind Bernstein memorabilia is occasionally offered: Among the lots hammered down in recent years are a 1990 TV Hall of Fame Award, a signed sheet with two hand-drawn measures from his Mass (composed for the 1971 dedication of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.), and a handwritten note of thanks from Martin Luther King, Jr. to the musician. One particularly quirky item to recently change hands was Frank Sinatra’s personal address book with contact information for, among other people, Bernstein. Of pricing on Bernstein-related items, Bradley stated that when combined with historical figures or events, “we see the prices increase.” In general, he noted, “There is not a strong market but there is a steady market.”
But this might well change. Urquhart noted that Bernstein’s popularity continues to grow, as seen by enthusiasm for the birthday celebration. And he pointed to Stephen Spielberg’s remake of the 1961 motion picture West Side Story, currently in the works, as well as an upcoming biopic, Bernstein, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper. Speaking of his friend and mentor, Urquhart concluded, “He continues to resonate with people.”
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