The following is a guest post from Music Reference Specialist Heather Darnell.
Jordan Rudess. Letter to Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein Collection, Library of Congress Music Division.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post on hate mail to famous musicians. One letter, found in our Leonard Bernstein Collection by researcher Lilian Holland, really stood out:
Aug 1965
Dear Mr. Bernstein,
How long do you practice? Can I have your picture? I am 8 years old. I think I play better than you. Do you want any advice?
After a few commenters expressed interest in the author’s identity, I did a bit of research. It turned out to be a young Jordan Rudess–legendary keyboardist best known for his work with Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment!
Rudess was kind enough to have a conversation with me about his letter, career, and connection with Bernstein. Here are a few highlights [edited for brevity]:
Music Reference Specialist Heather Darnell interviews Jordan Rudess on a Zoom call.
On seeing the letter for the first time in 57 years…
Well its really amazing that you guys dug that up. Totally mind blowing! You know, my family was like, “Oh my god, that’s amazing!” …I’m amazed my mother let that out the door. Maybe she thought it was really cute.
Did Bernstein ever write back?
I don’t think so, no…He was probably like, “This kid thinks he plays better than me! I’m not writing him back—no way!”
*According to our archival records, Bernstein did send a picture in return!
On Rudess’ first connection with Bernstein…
My mother didn’t really expect to have music in her family. So when I came around and started playing the piano, she was really, really happy, and she would tell stories about sitting on the steps outside the concert hall to listen to Leonard Bernstein playing piano or conducting an orchestra. And she really enjoyed it and shared that with me. Leonard Bernstein was definitely on my mind because of that.
On who is the better pianist…
*Laughing* I don’t think at 8-years-old I was playing better than him. He was a pretty damn good pianist. Really so talented. The thing that is so fun about the letter being to Leonard Bernstein is that, like him, I have also crossed boundaries in my career. I started out as a classical musician, went to Juilliard at 9, then left when I was 19 and decided to do other things. I got into rock and progressive rock and eventually metal and lot of different stuff. And Leonard Bernstein of course was the king of crossing boundaries and working within whatever genre.
What he would write to Bernstein today…
Ah well, I would just say thanks for all the amazing inspiration because the reality is, you know, his musical path is something I can relate to. He was one of the kings of being able to be a great classical musician and write music that had all different kinds of genres mixed in, and that’s totally what I’m interested in. And I really, like, want to become him in that way! So I would just have to say, “Thank you for this incredible inspiration and for allowing the world to see what’s possible as a musician.”
A great thank you to Jordan Rudess for being such a good sport and honoring the Library of Congress Music Division with an interview!