On This Day 25 August: Leonard Bernstein Was Born 1918

[PJMcK]

2. I've been thinking of the Maestro all day

When Bernstein turned 65, I was invited to his birthday party at his estate in Fairfield, CT. At the time, I was in graduate school and was interning for his company. At the party, I was seated next to Aaron Copland! As a young composer, I chewed his ear off but he didn't seem to mind. Copland was a very witty and generously thoughtful gentleman who answered almost all of my questions.

Bernstein was a very complex man. He had monster talents as a pianist, composer, conductor, educator and writer among other skills. He could be tremendous fun to be around and one of his favorite after-dinner activities was to play Charades. When he turned 70, The NY Times invited him to write an essay for the Sunday Op-Ed page; instead, he wrote a poem! He was also extremely complex as a man and the spectrum of his thoughts, moods and behavior was very broad. (I'll leave it at that.)

He gave me one composition lesson and one conducting lesson in return for some favors I did for his son and daughter. Suffice it to say that he suggested that my composition abilities were superior to my conducting skills! (Actually, I've done fine at both.)

At the time, I was unable to fully appreciate the incredible opportunities I had. I was too young and too self-absorbed to comprehend how my experiences were unique. As time has passed, though, those memories have taught me some wonderful lessons.

Happy birthday, Maestro! Thanks for everything.