Thirteen Anniversaries is a composition for solo piano by Leonard Bernstein, published in 1988, commemorating 13 people who played an important role in his life.
Background Bernstein wrote this set after similar collections, Seven Anniversaries (1943), Four Anniversaries (1948) and Five Anniversaries (1949–1951). Each movement celebrates a person. Some movements are dedicated to a person close to the one commemorated. The work was given its first performance by Alexander Frey in Berlin in 1998.
Movements The titles, referencing the persons, are: For Shirley Gabis Rhoades Perle In Memoriam: William Kapell (an American pianist who died young in a plane crash). For Stephen Sondheim For Craig Urquhart For Leo Smit (an American composer) For My Daughter, Nina In Memoriam: Helen Coates (one of Bernstein's most esteemed teachers) In Memoriam: Goddard Lieberson (former executive of Columbia Records) For Jessica Fleishmann In Memoriam: Constance Hope For Felicia, on our 28th Birthday (and her 52nd) For Aaron Stern In Memoriam: Ellen Goetz
References
Sources Horowitz, Mark Eden. Leonard Bernstein Collection. Library of Congress. 11 February 2008. Truesdell, F. Donald. “The Complete Works for Solo Piano by Leonard Bernstein.” American Music, vol. 4, no. 1 (British-American Musical Interactions, Spring, 1986). pp. 120–21.