LEONARD BERNSTEIN AT HARVARD: THE NORTON LECTURES, NO. 1: MUSICAL PHONOLOGY (TV)
Summary
The first of six lectures delivered by Leonard Bernstein as the Charles Norton Scholar at Harvard University in 1973 and produced for television by WGBH in Boston. Bernstein names his lectures about music theory "The Unanswered Question." This first lecture addresses the issue of musical phonology. Bernstein recalls his own study at Harvard; explains his choice of the title "The Unanswered Question"; elaborates on music theory and music grammar, citing the similarities of language, mathematics, science, and music; traces linguistic patterns to various music theories; and links children's use and development of linguistic skills to the evolution of musical skills. Bernstein performs an excerpt from Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 and explains to the audience the various highlights of the piece. Bernstein points out the similarities between linguistic studies and the study of musical pieces. The piece performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra is blacked-out in a portion of the program. No commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: January 11, 1976 Sunday 2:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T85:0615
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music - Analysis, appreciation; Musical Phonology
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1976
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Harry J. Kraut … Executive Producer
- Douglas Smith … Producer
- Mary V. Ahern … Associate Producer
- James Rieser … Associate Producer
- Humphrey Burton … Consulting Producer
- Clark Santee … Director
- Leonard Bernstein … Writer, Host
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart