LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1992) American composer and conductor whose works frequently reflected American themes. Superb content T.L.S. "Lenny " on his personal letterhead, Vineyard Haven, 1p. 4to., [n.d., but certainly June-July, 1954] to noted Austrian music publisher and author Hans Heinsheimer, then employed at publisher G. Schirmer in New York. In part: "...CANDIDE grows apace. You have probably heard about my backing and forthing about Venice, to their utter confusion. But it is really definite now: and the piece was finished yesterday! Sketch only, of course. But I am now putting the finale into ink for Isaac [Stern], and then begins the long haul of orchestration...don't you think there is enough time if it is finished by the end of July, leaving all of August for the copying of parts? It seems OK to me, especially since it is for strings and percussion only. I have decided to call it SERENADE (after Plato's SYMPOSIUM). What do you think? CANDIDE is turning out to be a new kind of old-fashioned piece: a real return to the womb. It is a special kind of neo-romantic theatre music which seems to have no tradition...and harks back to Offenbach and Auber...I think you'll like it... ". Light spot in blank area at bottom, staple hole at top, else very good. Serenade premiered in Venice a few months later, on September 9. 1954, with Isaac Stern as soloist and Bernstein conducting. $1,000-1,500