| My Twelve Tone Melody | |
|---|---|
| by Leonard Bernstein | |
 Irving Berlin in 1937 | |
| Composed | 1988 |
| Performed | 11 May 1988: New York City |
"My Twelve Tone Melody" is a 1988 composition by Leonard Bernstein written in tribute to Irving Berlin in celebration of Berlin's 100th birthday.[1] It was performed by Bernstein at the concert to celebrate Berlin's birthday at Carnegie Hall in May 1988.[1]
The piece was poorly received by Berlin's family at the concert, Bernstein's biographer, Joan Peyser, described it as a "dour, mean little piece" and that the piece could be interpreted as a "shot fired in a battle" between "late twentieth-century masters".[2] Bernstein was the only performer at the concert not to perform one of Berlin's compositions.[3]
The piece is written in the twelve-tone technique and adapts Berlin's songs "Always" and "Russian Lullaby". Bernstein remembered "Russian Lullaby" from his youth.[1]
The piece is two minutes in length.[1][4]
