Leonard Bernstein Conducts Simple Song from Mass, 1978

From the 1978 Kennedy Center Honors, Leonard Bernstein conducts Simple Song from his Mass with singer John Rubinstein.

[@marG520]

This was perfectly imperfect, beautifully in keeping with the character realization. Love

[@harryscher5762]

So moving! And where do we think Rubinstein got his inspiration? From his father, who was the greatest pianist of our generation! AMEN

[@kennethstanley8140]

Luv the song

[@susangreenfield4847]

Beautiful

[@Twentythousandlps]

The keyboard doubling the melody is not in the original, but was put here to help. Bernstein never conducted a performance of the complete Mass, beyond making the Columbia record. Arthur Rubinstein was receiving a Kennedy Center Award, which is why John Rubinstein was given this assignment. It would have gone better if it had been transposed down.

[@antonspivack3928]

Since Stephen Schwartz wrote the lyrics, this song should be performed when Schwartz gets the KCH (he should, given his contributions to musical theatre and film), perhaps by a real classical singer.

[@cantorkatz]

Really?? With all the professionals out there? They open with this guy?!!

[@sreepurammike]

Hahah i thought the same his voice doesn't fit this song.

[@davidtidyman6412]

Really? I think everyone can do a lot better. Thank you.

[@witchingours4432]

No one did it better than Alan Titus, but this is sad.

[@georgealderson4424]

I wonder if JR was a professional singer. Perhaps not judging by this performance but then in fairness I am not a fan of much of LB's music in any case I am here out of curiosity rather than admiration

[@johnrandolph6121]

He worked on Broadway. Created the role of Pippin I believe. Unfortunately he sounds pretty weak here.

[@EricMontreal22]

@@johnrandolph6121 Yes, he's done a lot of Broadway musical theatre work. But this probably needs a legit voice.

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

@@johnrandolph6121 Fun fact: Pippin's composer/lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, (along with songwriter Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel) also helped Bernstein with some of the lyrics for Mass as well.

[@havardrivansson7902]

Jon Rubinstein also composed the orchestral score for the film "Jeremiah Johnson."

[@josephg9465]

Rubinstein is talented, but his voice doesn't fit this song well.

[@datmeme8967]

Who did this dude pay or do something else for to get to sing this?!

[@marG520]

Your grudge is sad. This was done in the late 70’s in tribute to his father .

[@datmeme8967]

@@marG520 Doesn't make it suck less.

[@marG520]

@@datmeme8967 obsessed much lol back at ya

[@datmeme8967]

@@marG520 So in other words, you have no argument so you'll just repeat the same thing again. That stopped working in third grade. Keep failing.