Thirteen Anniversaries

Thirteen Anniversaries is a composition for solo piano by Leonard Bernstein, published in 1988, commemorating 13 people who played an important role in his life.

Thirteen Anniversaries
Piano music by Leonard Bernstein
The composer
RelatedNo. 12 basis for Opening Prayer
Published1988 (1988)
Movements13

Background

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Bernstein wrote this set after similar collections, Seven Anniversaries (1943), Four Anniversaries (1948) and Five Anniversaries (1949–1951). Each movement celebrates a person. Some movements are dedicated to a person close to the one commemorated.[1] The work was given its first performance by Alexander Frey in Berlin in 1998.[2]

Movements

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The titles, referencing the persons, are:[1]

  1. For Shirley Gabis Rhoades Perle
  2. In Memoriam: William Kapell (an American pianist who died young in a plane crash).
  3. For Stephen Sondheim
  4. For Craig Urquhart
  5. For Leo Smit (an American composer)
  6. For My Daughter, Nina
  7. In Memoriam: Helen Coates (one of Bernstein's most esteemed teachers)
  8. In Memoriam: Goddard Lieberson (former executive of Columbia Records)
  9. For Jessica Fleishmann
  10. In Memoriam: Constance Hope
  11. For Felicia, on our 28th Birthday (and her 52nd)
  12. For Aaron Stern
  13. In Memoriam: Ellen Goetz

References

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  1. ^ a b Stevenson, Joseph. "Leonard Bernstein / Anniversaries (13), for piano". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Einzigartig: Die kompletten Klavierwerke von Leonard Bernstein". TIP Magazin, January 1998

Sources

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  • Horowitz, Mark Eden. Leonard Bernstein Collection. Library of Congress. 11 February 2008.
  • Truesdell, F. Donald. “The Complete Works for Solo Piano by Leonard Bernstein.” American Music, vol. 4, no. 1 (British-American Musical Interactions, Spring, 1986). pp. 120–21.