“Every audience gets that.”

March 3, 2011 @ 10:51 pm | Filed under:

Just arrived from the library: Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concert series, which aired on CBS from 1958 to 1973. Backed by the New York Philharmonic, playing to a packed house of children in Carnegie Hall, Bernstein conducts and chats his way through the marvels and mysteries of music.

Scott watched this series, bit by bit, years ago in our New York days. He recently discovered our library owns it, so we’ve got plans to immerse ourselves in these DVDs for the next few weeks.

The fun Mr. Bernstein has with the music and the audience reminds me of this wonderful Bobby McFerrin moment, which I think I’ve linked to before.

Moment :43 and the swell of laughter that follows is pure, real, unexpected joy. I’m thinking about it and it’s hard to find examples of a crowd of adults reacting with such spontaneous and childlike delight. It’s like the first time a baby takes up a crayon and makes a streak of color upon the paper or the wall. Magic just happened!


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  1. tanita says:

    Oh, I adore that Bobby McFerrin moment — the first time I heard it, I must admit to a little squeal when he started singing the countermelody. It IS magic — and recapturing that magic over and over again is why I sing with our city chorus, and why I struggle through the Rossini Mass, and let William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast boggle my mind — because when you get it, there’s nothing like that feeling of sheer joy of YES! Magic!

    I hope your kids like those DVD’s, too.

  2. Sara says:

    Those DVD’s are great; we watched a few of them. I’d like to buy the whole set!

  3. Pam says:

    Just a heads up – Netflix has those. Thanks for the recommendation. After “Snoopy the Musical” I think my kids would listen to anything you suggest. We are going to check them out. Love Bobby McFerrin’s Ave Maria too. http://www.siena.org/December-2010/ave-maria-sing-along-with-bobby-mcferrin.html

  4. Mamalion says:

    Yay! Just found out that I can get these through our library’s consortium. That just solved my music dilemma!

  5. My Boaz's Ruth says:

    My husband is so fond of these that he bought it with Christmas money before we had kids at all! We’re looking forward for our little ones being old enough to appreciate it.

  6. maria says:

    Love this! I wish I had thought to tell my children “just watch and do what Bobby says to do” prior to showing them the video clip. THAT would have been priceless. Alas, I thought of this in the midst of our second viewing, which brought a “Oh man! We should have!” response. LOL So, if you want some fun, get your children to just watch and do as you all view the Science video. Should be great fun!

    Melissa, you share the most wonderful resources! Thank you!

  7. Carlie says:

    I LOVED that Bobby video. What a happy genius.