Nigel Simeone, University of Sheffield, UK
One of the Broadway musicals that can genuinely claim to have
transformed the genre, West Side Story has been featured in many books
on Broadway, but it has yet to be the focus of a scholarly monograph.
Nigel Simeone begins by exploring the long process of creating West Side
Story, including a discussion of Bernstein's sketches, early drafts of
the score and script, as well as cut songs.
The core of the book is a commentary on the music itself. West Side
Story is one of the very few Broadway musicals for which there is a
complete published orchestral score, as well as two different editions
of the piano-vocal score. The survival of the original copied orchestral
score, and the reminiscences of Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal, reveal
details of the orchestration process, and the extent to which Bernstein
was involved in this. Simeone's commentary considers: musical
characteristics and compositional techniques used to mirror the drama
(for example, the various uses of the tritone), motivic development, the
use and reinvention of Broadway and other conventions, the creation of
dramatic continuity in the score through the use of motifs and other
devices, the unusual degree of dissonance and rhythmic complexity (at
least for the time), and the integration of Latin-American dance forms
(Mambo, Huapango and so on).
Simeone also considers the reception of West Side Story in the
contemporary press. The stir the show caused included the response that
it was the angular, edgy score that made it a remarkable achievement.
Not all reviews were uncritical. Finally, the book looks in detail at
the making of the original Broadway cast recording, made in just one
day, included on the accompanying CD.
Contents: Introduction; Bernstein on Broadway before West Side Story;
Genesis; The musical manuscripts; The score; Reception; The original
Broadway cast recording; Appendices; Selective discography, videography
and online items; CD track list; Index.
About the Author: Nigel Simeone is Professor of Historical Musicology at the Department of Music, University of Sheffield, UK.
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Content )
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Introduction )
Illustrations: Includes 3 b&w illustrations, 22 music examples and an accompanying CD
Published: December 2009
Format: 219 x 153 mm
Extent: 192 pages
Binding: Hardback
