This is Leonard Bernstein conducting the premiere of Charles Ives' Second Symphony on February 25, 1951. This is probably the greatest symphony ever written by an American. Ives was listening at home in Danbury Connecticut via radio. At the end of the broadcast, he left the room so that the others present couldn't see his tears. It had taken him 50 years to get this piece performed.
Ives: Symphony #2
Last Thanksgiving I wrote up an analysis of the piece, but this year I'm going to let Lenny explain it all for you.
Lenny lectures on the Ives Second
