©2025 Fable Group Inc.

Leonard Bernstein and Washington, DC

By Daniel Abraham & Alicia Kopfstein-Penk &
Leonard Bernstein and Washington, DC by Daniel Abraham & Alicia Kopfstein-Penk &  digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Composer, conductor, activist, and icon of twentieth-century America, Leonard Bernstein (1918-90) had a rich association with Washington, DC. Although he never lived there, the US capital was the site of some of the most importantmoments in his life and work, as he engaged with the nation's struggles and triumphs. By examining Bernstein through the lens of Washington, DC, this book offers new insights into his life and music from the 1940s through the 1980s, including his role in building the city's artistic landscape, his political-diplomatic aims, his works that received premieres and other early performances in Washington, and his relationships with the nation's liberal and conservative political elites. The collection also contributes new perspectives on twentieth-century American history, government, and culture, helping to elucidate the political function of music in American democracy.

The essays in Leonard Bernstein and Washington, DC, all newly written by leading authorities, situate this important American cultural figure in the seat of United States government. The result is a fresh new angle on Leonard Bernstein, American politics, and American culture in the second half of the twentieth century.

Daniel Abraham is Professor of Music at American University, Alicia Kopfstein-Penk is Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University, and Andrew H. Weaver is Professor of Musicology at The Catholic University of America.

Download the free Fable app

app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities
app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

No Reviews

Alicia Kopfstein-Penk

Alicia Kopfstein-Penk is Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University.

Andrew H. Weaver

ANDREW H. WEAVER is Professor of Musicology at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.

Alicia Kopfstein-Penk

Alicia Kopfstein-Penk is Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University.

Andrew H. Weaver

ANDREW H. WEAVER is Professor of Musicology at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.

Barry Seldes

Carol J. Oja

Elissa Harbert

Elizabeth A. Wells

Lars Helgert

Paul R. Laird

Robert C. Lagueux

Robert C. Lagueux is the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Studies and Faculty Development at Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He researches and publishes work on medieval music, liturgy, and drama, and more widely on pedagogy, teaching, and learning.

Sarah Elaine Neill

Start a Book Club

Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!

FAQ

Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?

Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?

How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?

Do you sell physical books too?

Are book clubs free to join on Fable?

How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?

Error Icon
Save to a list
0
/
30
0
/
100
Private List
Private lists are not visible to other Fable users on your public profile.
Notification Icon
Fable uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB