1. On the Waterfront: Symphonic Suite
Bernstein 2
On the Waterfront: Symphonic Suite

2. Learning Objectives To complete our notes on instrumentation
To study the texture and structure of the extract

3. Are any of these used in other pieces we have studied?
Instrumentation
con sordini (bar 8)
lontano (bar 14)
subtone (bar 17)
hard sticks (bar 20)
una corda (bar 20)
Timp. glissando! (bar 30)
S.D. rim shot (bar 53)
flutt. (bar 105)
sul ponticello (bar 108)
Mute
“Distant”
Breathy and very quiet
As opposed to soft timp mallets
Piano soft pedal (one string)
Pedal glissando
Snare Drum rim shot
Flutter tonguing
Bow close to the bridge
Are any of these used in other pieces we have studied?

4. Instrumentation Bernstein uses the orchestra like a huge jazz band:
Sax solo (where?)
Strings have hardly any independent writing
Piano writing is very low and percussive
Big percussion section

5. Texture Find examples of: Compare:
Monophonic texture
Two-part counterpoint
Homorhythm
Compare:
Timp. 1 bar 20
Timp. 2 bar 26
Perc. Bar 32
Does this remind you of anything?
Can you describe the relationship of the flute and trombone parts in bars 7-11?
What extra layer is added to the texture in bar 14?
What do you notice about the timpani parts from bars 52-61? What else is going on in the texture here?

6. Texture 2 Find some more examples of pedal
Piano bottom A (bottom note of the piano!)
Ob/Cl/Tpt/Vln – what notes? Inverted pedal
Describe the texture from 108-end

7. Structure Questions What tune is the canon based on in bar 7?
Where does the trumpet theme in bar 13 come from?
Where does the percussion riff in bar 40 come from?
What about the timp/strings riff in bar 54?
Where have we heard the bar 54 tune before?
Where does the 3-note motif in bars 62, 64 etc. come from?
Where have we heard the theme at bar 78 before? Do we hear it again?
What about the violin parts in bars 88, 91, etc.?

8. Structure Section Bars Description Andante 1-6 Horn solo 7-12
Theme repeated in canon
13-19
Theme from bar 4 in trumpets with F pedal
Presto barbaro
20-39
Percussion fugal section
40-53
Sax solo over 2-bar percussion riff
54-62
WW & tpts play sax theme over timp & string riff based on bar 24-25
62-77
Quieter section based on bar 52 motif, crescendo
78-87
Homorhythmic tutti based on fugue theme
88-105
Suddenly quiet, based on 2-note minor 2nd from bar 42 over snare riff
Adagio
Slow coda based on bar 52 motif over long dissonant string chords

9. Plenary How many different themes is the extract based on?
Where is each theme first heard?