of the three and deservingly should be as a finale to the symphony. It slowly and gently fades to a soft pianissimo at the end and a sense of comfort and peace concludes the symphony and its tale of faith and faithlessness. The whole work is only twenty-five minutes long, and although it may be brief, Bernstein has just enough elements in it to make its impact a lasting one.Bernstein is known for his dramatic and exciting music because of the ability of the reader or audience to see and follow the development and variation of a small motivic theme. This style is seen here in his Jeremiah Symphony and characteristic of many of his early works.Bernstein premiered Jeremiah with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in January of 1944. The work made a vast impact and Bernstein went on to tour the country, introducing it to local audiences everywhere, who also welcomed it with praise. The distinguished Boston critic Warren Story Smith wrote, “ I don’t dare say how good I think Mr. Bernstein was for fear of appearing ridiculous, but I will go overboard and quote Schumann in saying, “Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!” Following the performances in New York, it won the Music Critics Circle Prize for the best new composition of the year. With this only being the beginning of Bernstein’s composing career, it certainly showed that he was off to a terrific start. (Ewen 1960:70)In the following years to come, Bernstein wrote two more symphonies as well as keeping up with his love for conducting and writing various other works on the side. One of the most famous works that he wrote during this time was Candide. In 1953, the playwright Lillian Hellman proposed to Bernstein that they adapt this novel by Voltaire for the musical theater.Voltaire (1694-1778) wrote a book entitled Candide or Optimism. The book was a satirical attack on the philosophies of the day and especially the Catholic Church. The belief was that ...
