Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrenceville, Massachusettes on
August 25, 1918. He was the first born child of Samuel and Jennie Bernstein,
who lived in Boston, but had gone to Lawrenceville to visit some relatives.
Bernstein's parents had little knowledge of, or interest in
classical music. The only records Leonard remembers hearing on his family
phonograph when he was a child were the popular hit songs of the day, such as "
Barney Google" and "Oh by Jingo."
For the most part, Leonard Bernstein was an unhappy child. He said, "
I was a miserable, terrified little child" (Musicians p.64). His family moved
from town to town, during Bernstein's school days, not giving him a chance to
make close friends or feel at home. Sadly, Bernstein's peers would make fun of
and tease Bernstein. He was a very sickly child as he suffered from chronic
asthma, rose fever, and hay fever. This pathetic child grew to be a very shy
person.
Leonard always had a......
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