West Side Story: Selection

From Wind Repertory Project
Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein (arr. William James Duthoit)


General Info

Year: 1957 / 1959
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $100.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Solo Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Brushes
  • Castagnets
  • Claves
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Hit-Hat
  • Maracas
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

  • Flute, 5 meas. after reh. 17, beat 1: E should read C
  • Oboe,7 meas. after reh. 8, beat 3: add "3" above beats 3 and 4 to indicate the triplet figure continues
  • Solo B-flat Clarinet, 13 meas. after reh. 7: add reh. 8
  • B-flat Clarinet II, 7 meas. after reh. 18, beat 4: G natural should read F natural
  • B-flat Clarinet II, 1 meas. before reh. 20, beat 1: C should be B (tied from previous bar)
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet, 3 meas. after reh. 1, beat 2: remove duration dot from half note
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet, 20 meas. after reh. 9: notes on the offbeats should be moved to sound on the beat (as in the measures before and after)
  • Bassoon I, 10 meas. after reh. 13, beat 2: F should read D
  • Bassoon II, 10 meas. after reh. 13: notes are faded and cracked in some printings
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone I, 7 meas. before reh. 17, beat 1: D-sharp should read C-sharp
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone II, 7 meas. before reh. 17, beat 1: D-sharp should read C-sharp
  • B-flat Cornet II, 2 meas. before reh. 2, beat 3: E-flat should read D
  • B-flat Trumpets I-II, 6 meas. after reh. 14, beat 2 (upper voice): B should read A
  • B-flat Trumpets I-II 10 meas. after reh. 20, beat 2: D should read E-flat
  • Horns in F I-II, 22 meas. after reh. 13: add reh. no. “14” (delete reh. 14 from following measure)
  • Horns in F I-II, 1 meas. before reh. 20, beat 2 (lower voice): add courtesy natural sign to E
  • Horns in F- I-II, 9 meas. before reh. 17: C sharp should read C natural
  • Trombone I, 5 meas. after reh. 17: E should read C
  • Trombone III, 2 meas. after reh. 7: add courtesy note “mute in”
  • Baritone (T.C. and B.C.) have bad page turns which can be fixed by creating a cover page and inverting the printed page turn.


Program Notes

West Side Story was Bernstein's greatest popular success. Characterized as an American Romeo and Juliet, the work is noted for its "extraordinary dance sequences, melodic characterization, musical continuity, cohesive plot construction, and excellent orchestration." With a romantic setting against a background of social and racial and ethnic strife, Bernstein's music reflects the countless emotions which permeate Stephen Sondheim's lyrics. From a basic mood of studied nonchalance and defiance by the juvenile set, the music at times becomes devout and tender or, in contrasting sections, dynamic in intensity. Songs included are I Feel Pretty, Maria, Something's Coming, Tonight, One Hand, One Heart, Cool, and America.

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Symphonic Wind Symphony (John Lynch, conductor) - 13 April 2023
  • Nordonia High School (Macedonia, Ohio) Combined Bands - 29 January 2023 (Severance Music Center, Cleveland)
  • University of Hawai'i West Oahu (Pearl City) University Band (Chadwick Kamei, conductor) - 27 November 2022
  • Winnipeg (Man., Can.) Wind Ensemble (Virginia Helmer, conductor) - 1 May 2022
  • The Southern Tier (Binghamton, N.Y.) Concert Band (Barry G. Peters, conductor) - 14 March 2022
  • Triangle Wind Ensemble (Cary, N.C.) (Evan Feldman, conductor) - 30 May 2021
  • East Tennessee State University (Johnson City) Concert Band (Joe D. Moore, conductor) - 6 May 2021
  • Sacramento (Calif.) State University Concert Band (Clay Redfield, conductor) – 11 March 2020
  • Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Randy Schwalbe, conductor) – 12 May 2018
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (Richard Mark Heidel, conductor) – 28 April 2019
  • Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant) University Band (Corey Jahlas, conductor) – 25 April 2019
  • Washburn University (Topeka, Kan.) Band (J. Thomas Seddon IV, conductor) – 15 April 2019
  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Campus Band (Betsy McCann, conductor) – 8 March 2019
  • Stuart (Fla.) Community Concert Band (Jim LeBon, conductor) - 10 February 2019
  • Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria, Calif.) Concert Band (Greg Stoll, conductor) – 10 November 2018
  • University of Colorado Boulder Concert Band (Matthew Dockendorf, conductor) – 22 October 2018
  • Encore Concert Band (Mokena, Ill.) (William Schuetter, conductor) – 21 October 2018
  • Little Rock (Ark.) Wind Symphony (Israel Getzov, conductor) – 11 October 2018
  • University of South Alabama (Mobile) Symphony Band (Jason Rinehart, conductor) – 27 September 2018
  • Marion (Mass.) Concert Band (Tobias Monte, conductor) - 24 August 2018
  • United States Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.) Band (Tod Addison, conductor) - 11 August 2018
  • Callanwolde Concert Band (Decatur, Ga.) (Glenn Moore, conductor) – 4 July 2018


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

  • Cool (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (1957/2018)
  • West Side Story (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1957/2015)


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Bernstein, L.; Sondheim, S.; Duthoit, W. [1958]. West Side Story: Selection [score]. Schirmer and Chappell: New York.
  • Smith, Norman E. (2002). ‘’Program Notes for Band.’’ Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 63.