| Course title | The Theatrical Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story, Candide, and Mass |
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| Course code | KMU/TLB |
| Organizational form of instruction | Lecture + Seminar |
| Level of course | Bachelor |
| Year of study | not specified |
| Semester | Winter and summer |
| Number of ECTS credits | 4 |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Status of course | Compulsory-optional, Optional |
| Form of instruction | Face-to-face |
| Work placements | This is not an internship |
| Recommended optional programme components | None |
| Lecturer(s) |
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| Course content |
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Themes: 1. Leonard Bernstein biography and context of his life and work 2. Bernstein and musical theater: introduction to the Broadway musical and Bernstein's output in that context 3. Candide 4. West Side Story 5. Mass 6. The Development of American Musical Theater 7. Bernstein's influence on later musical theater composers (e.g., Sondheim) 8. How to analyze Bernstein's theatrical works dramatically, musically, and textually
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| Learning activities and teaching methods |
Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
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| Learning outcomes |
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Leonard Bernstein (1918?90) was one of the most important and influential American musicians of the twentieth century. Highly proficient as a pianist, conductor, composer, and teacher, Bernstein's most famous pieces today still remain those written for the theater: Candide (1956), West Side Story (1957), and Mass (1971). This course introduces students to the cultural and musical context behind each piece, as well as Bernstein's biography and achievements.??
1. Students will identify and explain key aspects of Leonard Bernstein's biography and historical context, and assess how these factors influenced his theatrical works (Candide, West Side Story, and Mass). 2. Students will describe the conventions of American musical theater and evaluate Bernstein's contributions to and innovations within the genre, including his relationship to earlier and later composers. 3. Students will analyze selected scenes or numbers from Bernstein's theatrical works using musical, dramatic, and textual approaches, demonstrating a general understanding of form, harmony, orchestration, and narrative function. 4. Students will develop and articulate informed interpretations of Bernstein's works, incorporating evidence from scores, recordings, libretti, and scholarly readings in both written and discussion formats. 5. Students will compare Bernstein's theatrical works with those of other composers (e.g., Sondheim) and evaluate Bernstein's impact on the development of American musical theater. |
| Prerequisites |
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It would be helpful if students knew basic musical terms and concepts, but not absolutely necessary.
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| Assessment methods and criteria |
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Oral exam, Student performance, Seminar Work
Students will need to prepare assigned readings (and may do optional readings), listening, assignments, and if appropriate, watch films of theatrical productions. They will also engage in discussions with the instructor and peers both in class and online. |
| Recommended literature |
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| Study plans that include the course |
| Faculty | Study plan (Version) | Category of Branch/Specialization | Recommended semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Musicology (2026) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2019) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2019) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2026) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Musicology (2026) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2024) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2024) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Musicology (2019) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Musicology (2022) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Musicology (2024) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2026) | Category: Theory and history of arts | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |